(From third left) Mohamad Zahri and Anfaal with local guitar makers at the Selangor Creative Cities Network conference. With them are (from left) MBPJ Department of Building Control director Ismathinoon Abd Rahman and MBPJ deputy mayor Aznan Hassan.
The state government wants to tap into the creative industry to bolster the local economy and support Visit Selangor 2025 campaign.
Petaling Jaya City Council (MBPJ) hosted the first Selangor Creative Cities Network conference as part of Unesco’s Creative Cities Network (UCCN).
The state wants to cultivate best practices in the creative industry to prepare for Visit Selangor 2025, said Deputy State Secretary (Development) Datuk Johary Anuar during the event’s launch at MBPJ’s Dewan Sivik.
“Unesco’s UCCN was launched in 2004 to strengthen the relationship between cities with creative potential.
Performers doing a cultural dance during the event at Dewan Sivik.
“Some 350 cities in the world are in UCCN including two in Malaysia – Kuching Selatan, City of Gastronomy in 2021 and Ipoh, City of Music in 2023.
“Under UCCN, cities must have one or more of the following elements: arts and folklore, music, design, film, literature, craft, media arts and gastronomy.
“Selangor has its potential products too, such as ‘Festival Merakyatkan Seni Budaya: Kesenian Mah Meri’, which falls under the arts category.
“The Mah Meri tribe has its own unique Orang Asli culture, which is still preserved in the Kuala Langat district.
“Besides MBPJ, Subang Jaya City Council (MBSJ), Klang Royal City Council (MBDK), Sepang and Hulu Selangor municipal councils have agreed to be part of the Selangor Creative Cities network,” said Johary.
UCCN promotes cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a strategic factor for sustainable urban development.
Also present was Selangor women, family empowerment, welfare and care economy committee chairman Anfaal Saari.
She said to generate greater productivity within the creative industry, some RM1mil had been allocated.
There are funds to kick-start business, financial management, marketing and product placements.
“For Visit Selangor 2025 we plan to attract both local and European markets,” said Anfaal.
“We want tourists to embark on the ‘Pusing Selangor Dulu’ campaign to visit Sabak Bernam, Kuala Selangor, Sepang and Kuala Langat.
“We have allocated a RM3.3mil budget for this.
Petaling Jaya mayor Mohamad Zahri Samingon said the Selangor Creative Cities Network conference would come up with a blueprint for local councils to develop their creative sectors.
“In Petaling Jaya, we have the annual folklore festival that showcases both international and local folk arts.
“This festival also provides economic opportunities for those in other sectors, such as the food and beverage industry,” he said.
