M. Nasir Special Concert, Various Art Activities Will Be Held In Ipoh Next Year

IPOH, Nov 22 (Bernama) -- Music maestro Datuk M. Nasir will hold a special concert, in conjunction with the recognition of Ipoh as one of the new cities joining the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Creative Cities Network (UCCN), for the music category.

The chairman of the Music Copyright Protection Agency (MACP) said that the special performance is expected to be held in mid-2024, at a suitable location in the city.

“It is one of the various artistic activities which will be held continuously to support the Ipoh City Council (MBI) to succeed as a creative city of music.

“We are also planning to hold a rakyat (people’s) festival, and collaborate with some producers here to produce films or television shows,” he said when met by Bernama and Malaysia Gazette, here today.

He said MACP also plans to organise the ‘Cipta Ekspres’ programme in Ipoh, by gathering songwriters to create new songs together, which runs into a few days.

He also added that he saw Ipoh as having potential, due to being the focus of many fans in the field, especially rock music, since the 1980s, and seeing more and more people having interest in other music genres in the suburbs.

“I have been following this Ipoh scene since I was in the music industry, and the excitement has always always come in waves. Today, I see that there are many more music fans other than rock that are increasing, so I remember that the potential is not in the middle of the city, but on the outskirts of Ipoh.

“We want to gather these people by holding various art activities that will attract them to congregate, such as holding concerts and festivals not just on one day but for a longer span, such as staging an Art Month in Ipoh, for example,” he said.

He also said that he had high hopes in realising all the plans envisioned, with the cooperation of MBI and other agencies, proactively and consistently.

On Nov 1, Bernama reported that UNESCO, through a statement on its official website, announced that the Perak state capital is now recognised as one of the 55 new cities to join the UCCN, in conjunction with World Cities Day.

In 2022, Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the city was proposed to be nominated as a Creative City Network, specialising in music - for sustainable urban development -  to make Ipoh the most liveable city in the country.

-- BERNAMA