Zubaidah appointed new Istana Budaya DG

KUALA LUMPUR: National Culture and Arts Department (JKKN) director (Policy and Research) Zubaidah Mukhtar has been appointed as the new Director-General of Istana Budaya, effective today.

She replaces Zaiton Md Desa, who left on compulsory retirement on Oct 20 last year.

Zubaidah, 54, who has vast experience in tourism, arts and culture, is a graduate of the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, in the United States of America.

Prior to this, she had served at JKKN and also with the Tourism, Arts and Culture Ministry and had held several posts, including as Director of Arts Guidance Division and as Marketing and Public Relations officer with Istana Budaya from 2002 to 2011.

In an interview with Bernama, Zubaidah said she intended to expand collaboration with various workforces from other productions to strengthen the country's art and culture industry through the exchange of expertise and views.

"For example, we can collaborate with the MPO (Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra), the Kuala Lumpur City Hall orchestra and the RTM orchestra by organising an orchestra festival at Istana Budaya.

"For me, there is no competition in the industry because it is a small industry. Instead, we have to complement each other," she added.

Zubaidah also planned to form an Association of Performing Arts Centres, which would involve providers of performance venues across the country.

Meanwhile, she said work to replace and repair the Istana Budaya roof, expected to begin next year, would be able to improve the image of the prestigious stage in the eyes of the world.

"This building is over 20 years old and certainly looks worn, so the renovation process is an important part of making sure the Istana Budaya looks grand again," she said, adding that it would be closed for a certain period to facilitate maintenance work.

-- BERNAMA