Staff and guests with the 49 graduates during the 26th Sabah Institute of Art Convocation ceremony in UMS.
KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Institute of Art (SIA) graduates are encouraged to venture further into the state’s existing cultural diversity in their works.
The state is well-known for its rich cultural heritage, which will become a source of many new ideas to inspire the creative industry, Sabah Education and Innovation Minister Datuk Dr Yusof Yacob.
Therefore, the graduates should tap the cultural diversity to bring their creative exploits to greater heights, he said in a speech delivered on his behalf by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Jasmine Teo Geck Choo during the 26th Sabah Institute of Art Convocation ceremony at YTL auditorium in Universiti Malaysia Sabah yesterday.
The event saw 49 graduates receiving diplomas in Architecture Studies, Interior Design, Music Studies, Fashion Design and Graphic Design.
Also present were SIA president Prof. Dato’ Dr Wilson Yong Tung Yung JP; SIA chief executive officer Muhammad Hatta Dahli and SIA academic director Jay Roy W. Anggang.
“The creative industry field is an important component of human resource development to enhance educational opportunities in the state.
“In this respect, the Sabah government through Malaysia Baharu supports the establishment of a strong training and education base to develop the necessary professionally trained workforce needed by its growing creative industry.
“Sabah has also been moving into a new phase of economic and social development for the past few years, where ideas and innovation will be central to strengthening our economic competitiveness.
“When we talk about arts, it does exist in helping us to engage in future, in more ways than one field.
“It is not just because of the opportunities for growth in the creative industry, but the advantages they can bring to other industries.
“Every field of job and income opportunities are now engaged with arts and design where this creative industry bring style, aesthetic and appeal that can differentiate Sabah’s products and services from others.
“And more broadly, the diversity that we have in the State make us stand out among the most innovative cities.
“Our arts, design and media industries are indeed well positioned to benefit from this window of opportunity,” he said.
Meanwhile, the recipient of this year’s Presidential Award, Lee Yee Cheun, 24, during an interview, expressed his happiness and gratitude towards people around him, especially his parents.
Cheun, who is the youngest of two siblings, also gave his special thanks to his older brother for the emotional support he received.
He said his friends helped him throughout his studies and vice versa while lecturers gave guidance during the three years’ period to finish his diploma in Interior Design.
Although he has a diploma in commerce, he pursued Interior Design as it is his passion since secondary school days.
Cheun, who is currently working as a designer at a company in Bundusan, Penampang, said that he would focus more on work to gain more field experience and build a wider network from here on.
“I will stay in KK (Kota Kinabalu) since opportunities are developing here as well,” he added, although he previously planned to go to Singapore and Taiwan for studies before