Breathing new soul into the nation

Panggung Rakyat – a traditional-based series of live events and workshops for the masses – was one of Cendana’s initiatives.

RECENTLY, the hashtags #SolidaritiIndustriKreatif and #ArtIsEssential hashtags started trending in Twitterjaya. They both express the frustrations of the country’s creative industry players who have been hit very badly by the Covid-19 pandemic as their livelihoods depend on producing creative works and live shows.

The lack of urgency in addressing the state of Malaysia’s creative industry is disappointing to say the least. The industry seems to be perceived as a non-essential sector and lacks any long-term planning to get it moving again. I am truly saddened by this because I believe this sector is vital as a bastion of Malaysia’s rich cultural resources.