Malaysia Seeks To Position Itself As ASEAN’s Leading Cultural And Artistic Hub - Wan Azizah
PUTRAJAYA, Oct 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia is determined to enhance its role as a leading cultural and artistic hub in the ASEAN region, harnessing art and creative exchange as vital tools for deepening regional ties, promoting people-to-people understanding and driving socio-economic growth, said the Prime Minister's wife, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
She said art and culture were not just reflections of national identity but also powerful diplomatic instruments that could build bridges across borders and foster lasting regional cooperation.
Speaking at the ASEAN-China Art Exchange Exhibition 2025 here today, Wan Azizah said cultural exchanges held in conjunction with the ASEAN Summit play a pivotal role in strengthening ties between Southeast Asia and China.
"Chairing ASEAN is our opportunity to steer Southeast Asia towards a future of stability, dynamic growth and rich cultural exchange.
"This national undertaking requires a powerful consensus. Let us unite, in our businesses, our communities and our cultural institutions to provide the active support and collaboration needed to make Malaysia's leadership a resounding success for the entire region," she said.
She said that through the exchange of artistic works, the art space created outside the summit venue can serve as a catalyst for promoting international relations.
"This is a concrete step by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture to support international cultural and arts events. If our tourism industry is to reach new heights, it would be wise to carefully cultivate cultural arts as a tourism resource while developing tourist destinations," she said.
Wan Azizah also highlighted Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s ongoing efforts to build a "Prosperous Malaysia" with balanced material and spiritual development.
"This aligns with the people's aspirations for a better life. However, achieving this vision requires more than government efforts alone. It requires the participation and cooperation of more grassroots organisations like the Malaysian International Culture and Arts Promotion Association," she added.
The government, she said, remains committed to holistic development under the Malaysia MADANI agenda, with ambitions to position the country as a regional hub for education, logistics, tourism, and increasingly, data and digital services.
"The Prime Minister will present the 2026 Budget in Parliament this afternoon. I must emphasise that the government's commitment to all-round development is unquestionable, in line with the Malaysia MADANI agenda.
"We hope to make Malaysia a regional education hub, a freight hub, a tourist heaven, and, in recent years, a data centre, a centre of considerable interest," she said.
Addressing the rapid digital transformation shaping the 21st century, Wan Azizah warned that Malaysia must keep pace with technological advances including artificial intelligence (AI) or risk being left behind.
"AI will undoubtedly excel as a tool for systems-based fields like education, business, and advertising, where efficiency and data-driven design are paramount.
"However, the creation of art operates on a different axis entirely, one defined by human authenticity. Art, such as a painting, must possess a soul, a quality born from genuine feeling, vulnerability and personal history," she said.
-- BERNAMA
