KOTA KINABALU: Sabah’s arts and creative industry players have been urged to take advantage of the more than RM130 million allocated under Budget 2027 to strengthen the local film, music and creative content sectors.

Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister of Sabah, Datuk Joniston Bangkuai, said the Federal Government’s allocation presented opportunities for local industry players to produce quality works, enhance professionalism and expand their reach into wider markets.

He said this during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Sabah Creative Associations Coalition (KREATIF SABAH), led by its chairman, Chester Pang, at his office in Menara Kinabalu recently.

Joniston also expressed hope that the Sabah State Budget 2027, scheduled to be tabled in November, would give due attention to the development of the state’s arts and creative industries.

During the nearly two-hour meeting, KREATIF SABAH presented its roles, activities and future direction, while submitting two proposal papers concerning the establishment of the Kota Kinabalu Creative Hub (KKCity C-Hub) and the Kota Kinabalu City Orchestra (OBKK).

Both parties also discussed the proposals and explored the potential for further development of Sabah’s arts and creative sectors.

KREATIF SABAH, which brings together 11 arts and creative associations in the state, has the potential to serve as a platform for identifying industry needs, coordinating development proposals and connecting the creative community with the government.

These efforts could also support the aspirations of the Sabah Maju Jaya 2.0 (SMJ 2.0) Development Plan through a more structured approach to creative industry development, while creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for local talent.

KREATIF SABAH expressed hope that the visit would lay the foundation for continued collaboration between the government and industry players to strengthen the arts and creative ecosystem and increase its contribution to Sabah’s economy.