By: Rosli Mansor Ahmad Razali
IPOH: The music industry has the potential to drive Perak’s creative economy by generating income, creating jobs and boosting economic activity in the tourism, hospitality and local business sectors.
State Education, Higher Education, Youth and Sports Committee chairman and People of Remarkable Talents (PORT) chairman Datuk Khairudin Abu Hanipah said the state government was focusing on initial steps to develop the creative economy, including tapping the potential of the music industry.
He said the music ecosystem involved not only singers and musicians, but also songwriters, lyricists, producers, sound engineers, event managers and various supporting professionals.
“We want local music practitioners not only to produce quality works, but also to have opportunities to develop their careers, build creative enterprises and penetrate wider markets,” he said in his speech at the opening of the eighth Ipoh Music Symposium (IMS) at the Ipoh Convention Centre here on Friday night.
The three-day symposium, held from Oct 23 to 25, features a range of activities, including a Nusantara cultural festival, exhibitions and music workshops.
Khairudin said Ipoh’s recognition as a UNESCO Creative City of Music provided Perak with opportunities to expand its networks, strengthen international collaborations and introduce local music to global audiences.
He said the recognition should also be leveraged to create more performance opportunities for local musicians, while strengthening training, industry exposure and market access through digital technology.
“Perak’s musical diversity, ranging from traditional Malay music and the performing arts of the Orang Asli community to Chinese and Indian musical traditions, as well as contemporary genres, jazz and rock, is an asset that deserves to be showcased strategically.
“Musical heritage should not remain merely a memory of the past. It can be documented, studied by younger generations, presented to new audiences and developed through creative approaches suited to the times,” he said.
He added that music also had the potential to improve social well-being, strengthen community ties and provide emotional support through suitable music therapy programmes, charity performances and volunteer activities.
Meanwhile, PORT general manager Nur Hanim Mohamed Khairuddin said the consistent organisation of IMS, now in its eighth edition, reflected its growing appeal among academics and researchers in the arts and cultural fields, both locally and internationally.
She said this year’s theme, “Folk Music”, provided a platform for knowledge-sharing, the exchange of views and the development of collaborative networks through presentations, forums and workshops.
“PORT will continue to serve as the focal point for Ipoh’s UNESCO Creative City initiatives in music, in collaboration with Ipoh City Council (MBI), Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka and other strategic partners.
“This symposium is not merely a platform for exchanging ideas, but also an opportunity to generate proposals that can contribute to the development of Perak’s music industry and creative economy,” she said.
