KOTA KINABALU: Sept 26, 2026 — The Sabah Creative Associations Federation (KREATIF SABAH) has urged the Sabah Government to enforce filming and performance permit requirements for productions and artistes from outside Sabah conducting commercial activities in the state.
The call is among seven demands in a memorandum submitted to the Political Secretary to the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Azrul Ibrahim.
KREATIF SABAH chairman Chester Pang said the move was important to ensure out-of-Sabah activities were better regulated.
“This enforcement protects the interests, job opportunities and market space of local arts practitioners and production crew,” he said.
KREATIF SABAH proposed a Creative Hub or one-stop centre to coordinate permit applications, approvals and arts and production matters in Sabah.
“We want a clearer channel for local practitioners and production companies from outside Sabah,” Chester said.
The proposal would reduce bureaucracy and speed up applications. KREATIF SABAH is not taking over the role of existing associations, but instead serving as a common platform to raise issues and interests of Sabah’s arts and creative industry ecosystem.
The memorandum was approved at KREATIF SABAH’s first general meeting last July. KREATIF SABAH presented the potential of the creative economy as a contributor to economic growth and youth employment opportunities.
Azrul congratulated KREATIF SABAH on its establishment, saying it was in line with the needs of Sabah’s arts and creative industry.
“The unification of 11 associations in the arts and creative fields under one federation can create a more organised communication channel between the creative community and the Sabah Government,” he said.
He said the platform would make it easier for the government to implement plans and policies for the creative industry.
Meanwhile, KREATIF SABAH secretary-general Mohd Nazri Saidali sought Azrul’s views on the proposed establishment of the Sabah Nasyid Academy.
Nazri, who is also president of the Sabah Nasyid Composers, Lyricists and Artistes Association (KOPAN), said the academy had the potential to become a platform for structured talent development.
“We have nasyid talent and works from Sabah that are increasingly gaining wider attention,” he said.
“What is needed is more systematic talent development so that artistes are not only able to produce quality works, but also possess performance, marketing and industry management skills,” he added.
KREATIF SABAH will continue to strengthen ties with the Sabah Government and stakeholders to ensure the voice, needs and potential of the arts and creative industry are given attention in Sabah’s economic development agenda.
