KUALA LUMPUR — Balik Pulau MP and former Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, Mohammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik, has renewed his call for Malaysia to establish a dedicated Ministry of Culture, arguing that the country’s cultural sector continues to be overshadowed by tourism priorities.
In a public statement, Bakhtiar said Malaysia must “seriously consider” separating the culture portfolio from tourism—an issue he first raised in Parliament in 2020. He stressed that structural reform is overdue, pointing out that the pattern in MOTAC has been consistent across administrations.
“Almost every Tourism Minister naturally focuses on tourism because the returns are immediate and commercially visible. Meanwhile, the culture sector remains sidelined, underfunded, and reactive rather than visionary,” he said.
Indonesia’s Model Cited as Regional Example
Bakhtiar noted that Indonesia has already restructured its ministries to allow culture and tourism to operate separately, providing each sector with specialised leadership and investment.
“Indonesia recognised that both sectors require dedicated focus. Malaysia should now re-evaluate whether combining tourism and culture under one ministry is still effective,” he said.
‘Culture Is the Soul of the Nation’
The Balik Pulau MP said that Malaysia’s rich cultural ecosystem—including heritage custodians, performing arts communities, traditional craftsmen, modern creatives, and cultural institutions—has struggled to gain adequate recognition and long-term planning under the current structure.
“Culture is not an accessory to tourism. It is the soul of the nation—our identity, our narrative, and a core pillar of diplomacy and the creative economy,” he emphasised.
He added that the imbalance has led to limited funding, inconsistent policy development, and cultural institutions being forced to operate reactively instead of being empowered to build long-term strategies.
Why a Dedicated Ministry Is Needed
Bakhtiar outlined several benefits of establishing a standalone Ministry of Culture:
• Focused policies and sustainable funding for arts, culture, and heritage
• Stronger protection of cultural and historical assets
• Enhanced cultural diplomacy, elevating Malaysia’s presence internationally
• Consistent, year-round support for creative workers outside seasonal grants
• Strategic development of the creative economy, aligned with national goals
He said giving culture its own ministry would allow the sector to “breathe, grow, and take its rightful position in nation-building” while letting tourism continue thriving competitively under a separate portfolio.
Growing Support From the Arts and Cultural Community
Bakhtiar added that many cultural advocates, artists, institutions, and creative industry players have long echoed the same concerns, calling for reforms to ensure Malaysia’s identity and heritage are preserved and promoted effectively.
He expressed hope that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim (PMX) and the Cabinet will give serious consideration to this restructuring. “Malaysia’s cultural identity is too valuable to be left as a secondary priority. It is time to give culture a seat at the table,” he said.
-Ant /Dino