By Norrasyidah Arshad
SHAH ALAM, Jan 28 — Selangor is being positioned as a City of Arts with continuous efforts to enhance the arts, which include gazetting various traditional heritages, says Borhan Aman Shah.
The state executive councillor for housing and culture said the move supports the state’s objective of preserving cultural legacy and continuity while positively impacting the sociocultural and economic sectors.
“We have gazetted several traditional heritage, including Sate Kajang, Nasi Ambeng, and, most recently, the cultural art of ‘ronggeng’. We are also gazetting Selangor Batik adorned with a motif of nine-petaled hibiscus, set to become the official attire for state civil servants.
“With the growth of modern art in the creative industry, the effort seeks to advance culture and heritage,” he said, representing Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari at the opening of the Shah Alam Gallery Open Exhibition 2023 (PTGSA23), here yesterday.
From yesterday until February 29, PTGSA23, open from 10 am to 5 pm, showcases 52 contemporary art pieces by local artists, including students.
The exhibition is set to attract 5,000 visitors and features four main categories, namely a broad theme combination, sociocultural narratives, spiritual exploration, 2D and 3D works, and new media.
On the new painting gallery owned by the state government that will be housed in the former Bank Negara Malaysia building in Section 14, here, Borhan said it is expected to be completed in two years.
“We are currently renovating the building for the new Shah Alam Gallery. There is a safe room in the building, which will house Sultan Selangor’s painting collection,” he said.
Meanwhile, approximately 28,000 state civil servants will wear the Selangor Batik-patterned official attire every Thursday starting this year.
Borhan said the batik would be expanded to include agency personnel and state government subsidiaries.
“The outfit will be tailored by batik entrepreneurs in Rawang, who have extensive experience in batik canting, including the Prime Minister’s attire.
“Since it involves many entrepreneurs, we have distributed the orders to expedite completion. We will distribute the attire this year in stages and it has already been approved by the Selangor State Executive Council,” he said.
At the launch of the Selangor Batik in December 2022, Amirudin said the design by the Selangor Malay Customs and Heritage Corporation (Padat) and the Malaysian Handicraft Development Corporation would be donned by state executive councillors, state assemblymen, and civil servants for a start.
He said the wearing of the batik will be followed by village leaders, local council members, and grassroots leaders to popularise the attire.
