KOTA KINABALU: July 22, 2026 – The Sabah Creative Arts Association Umbrella Organisation (KREATIF SABAH) has voiced its full support for the proposed establishment of the Sabah Creative Hub.
The proposal was raised by appointed State Assemblyman, Datuk Kassim Razali, during the debate on the 2026 Supplementary Supply Bill at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly sitting on Tuesday.
Its Secretary-General, Nazri Saidali, said the idea of creating a one-stop centre for the arts and creative industry sector was not new. Various meetings, engagement sessions and round-table discussions had been held over the past decade or more. To date, however, the proposal had yet to be realised because no concrete follow-up action had been taken.
Mr Nazri expressed optimism that the proposal now stood a much better chance of being realised, following the state government’s establishment of the Creative Economy portfolio under the Sabah Ministry of Youth and Sports late last year. The portfolio was created by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor.
That move was seen as a clear manifestation of the government’s commitment to strengthening the creative industry as one of the state’s strategic economic sectors.
Mr Nazri, who is also Chairman of the Sabah Association of Composers, Lyricists and Nasyid Artists (KOPAN), said Sabah could no longer afford to lag behind in the development of the creative industry. The creative economy – also known as the orange economy – is now recognised as a high-potential sector for driving economic growth.
He said developing the sector would not only increase its contribution to the state’s economy but also create more job opportunities, nurture new creative entrepreneurs and empower local talent, particularly among Sabah’s youth.
“The Sabah Creative Hub is not merely a physical centre; it has the potential to become a catalyst for developing a more structured, inclusive and competitive creative industry ecosystem,” he said.
“It can serve as a platform for training, talent development, creative business incubation, industry networking and the marketing of local creative products and services,” he added.
Mr Nazri stressed that KREATIF SABAH, as a key stakeholder in the state’s creative industry, remained committed to working closely with the government and all relevant parties. The aim, he said, was to ensure that every plan and initiative implemented achieved its objectives of advancing Sabah’s creative industry to a higher level.
KREATIF SABAH is an umbrella organisation representing various arts and creative industry fields in Sabah. The proposed Sabah Creative Hub is intended to provide a comprehensive creative ecosystem development centre in the state.
