MALAYSIA’S cultural identity risks being overshadowed unless it is afforded a dedicated platform within the federal cabinet, according to MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd chairman Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik.
Bakhtiar, who is also the Member of Parliament for Balik Pulau, is urging Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to establish a standalone Ministry of Culture during the upcoming cabinet reshuffle, citing existing vacancies as an opportunity to give the creative sector strategic focus and long-term investment.
"For too long, the culture element has been treated merely as an extension of tourism, something to be bundled into festivals, costumes, dances and performances," he said.
"Culture is identity, heritage, language, creative talent, and the soul of a nation."
He warned that placing culture under tourism inevitably shifts focus towards hotel occupancy, visitor numbers, and promotional campaigns rather than nurturing cultural institutions, safeguarding heritage assets, strengthening language literacy, or developing the country’s creative ecosystem.
"Many countries have realised this long ago, but Malaysia somehow lost her focus or failed to see the potential of the creative sector," Bakhtiar said.
He pointed to France, which maintains a full Ministry of Culture safeguarding museums, national archives, and creative talent; Japan, which protects ancient traditions, skilled craftsmen, and preserved towns; and the United Kingdom, which supports theatres, galleries, and creative industries as a key component of economic development.
South Korea’s success in transforming culture into a global export through K-pop, K-drama, and cultural diplomacy, he added, demonstrates how culture can be leveraged as both soft power and economic growth.
"Culture is now soft power. It is growth. Culture is national identity," he said.
Bakhtiar stressed that Malaysia, with its rich heritage, diverse storytelling traditions, indigenous cultures, and creative minds, requires more than event-based programming.
"It is time we elevate culture with dedicated leadership and clear policy direction. A standalone Ministry of Culture is not just administrative restructuring—it is preserving who we are and projecting who we want to become," he said.
"Let culture be a pillar of nation-building, not a footnote of tourism," he urged. "We strongly urge the Prime Minister to consider establishing a dedicated Ministry of Culture so that culture receives strategic attention, long-term investment and full policy emphasis."
The call comes amid growing recognition that a focused approach to culture could strengthen Malaysia’s national identity, drive economic opportunities within the creative sector, and enhance the country’s influence on the global stage. - December 10, 2025
