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Writer's picture: Lea AzuarLea Azuar

By Azalea Azuar

Poster by @kim.mie.art on Instagram


2019 was a historic year for Malaysian youths because the minimum voting age was lowered from 21 years to 18 years.


The Constitution Act (Amendment) 2019 stipulates, among others, requires a citizen who reaches the age of 18 and is eligible to vote to be automatically registered as a voter by the Election Commission (EC).


The bill was passed by Dewan Rakyat on July 16, 2019, and Dewan Negara on July 25 of the same year.


This year, those aged 18 and above have been automatically registered as voters without having to make an account on the MySPR Daftar portal or going to the post office.


Are Malaysian youths even interested in politics?


Despite the automatic voter registration for those above the ages of 18, Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri observed that many of them are unaware of it.


"Many young voters don't know that their names have been listed on the electoral roll. Now, when they turn 18, they automatically become voters. Some don't know this.


"There have been occasions where I met young voters, especially students, and they didn't know they were already on the electoral roll," he said in a report by The New Straits Times (NSTP).


Moreover, the Merdeka’s Centre National Youth Survey indicated that 66% of the youth believe that leaders and politicians “do not care”, and 70% of them have little interest in learning about politics.


Another 78% revealed that political and government issues are complicated.


Yet politics should be important, especially among the youth since they are the catalysts of the future.


Other key issues such as education, healthcare, employment and environmental protection are also directly impacted by political outcomes.


I’m an artist but why should I care?


Currently, there are two ministries in Malaysia that are primarily responsible for developing the local art scene which are the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) and the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia.


However, other ministries do indirectly play a role as well.


A great government would mean that we have better freedom of expression, understand the needs of the artists (especially during hard times) and make Malaysia an artistic hub not only in the South-East Asian region but internationally.


Under MOTAC’s “Buy Art Malaysia” initiative, a total of 1,130 artworks worth more than RM3.7 million has been purchased from 64 art galleries nationwide in 2022.


The campaign started last year to assist artists which were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic as well boosting the recovery of the art sector.


The ministry has allocated a total of RM1.06 million for this initiative where each voucher is worth between RM500 to RM1,000 depending on the value of the art.


K-KOMM through its various agencies such as the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) and the Cultural Economy Development Agency (CENDANA) has allocated grants to develop the Malaysian arts scene.


Moreover, the Ministry of Finance (MOF) is responsible for tabling the annual Federal Budget where a certain amount of funds will be allocated to each ministry to develop a certain area.


Not only do we want to vote for a government with excellent initiatives but also a clean and transparent one where the funds can be used to develop the local arts scene.


Just imagine if we can have more funds that can help to channel projects that will support emerging artists to exhibit their artworks in the Louvre or have stricter enforcement on copyright issues.


Wouldn’t that be great?


Using art to raise awareness on voting


Elections are held every November in the US. It was only in 2020 that Christine Messineo started the “Plan Your Vote” campaign in collaboration with US non-profit organisation Vote.org.


It involved the artworks of American artists including Patti Smith, Derrick Adams, Michael Stipe and Sally Mann who displayed their masterpieces in art galleries Guggenheim and the New Museum with a powerful message - urging Americans to vote.


It aims to empower Americans to own their voting rights, providing accurate, up-to-date voting registration details for all states, as well as mail-in and absentee voting information, polling locations and deadlines.


The artworks were available on Vote.org’s website which can be downloaded so that people can share it around on their social media pages to raise awareness on voting.


On the other hand, Japanese artists composed of illustrators, designers and even manga artists have teamed up for the “Vote Poster 2021” movement to increase voter turnout rates among the youth for its General Elections.


Perhaps it would be fantastic if Malaysia can come up with these kinds of initiatives.


It would be interesting to see a collaboration between art communities and youth political awareness movements.


However, there are already some of our talented local artists doing their part to raise voter awareness such as @maverick_yeasty_potato, @bedul.offcial and @themokumentary who are making comics about the upcoming 15th General Elections (GE15).


Do check out their social media pages and spread the word!


Voting is important, and your voice matters.









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Kuala Lumpur, 3 November 2022 - Sejumlah 32 orang ahli KL Sketch Nation’s (KLSN) #bangsapelakar berjaya mempamerkan hasil karya seni mereka di pameran seni “The Art of Healing”.

Pameran tersebut telah dianjurkan oleh platform kesedaran kesihatan mental, My We’re In Progress Healing (My WIP Healing), bersama kedai seni, Nak Seni, yang telah berlangsung pada 29 Okt dan 30 Okt lepas, di Muzium Telekom (Muzium TM) Malaysia, KL. Setiap hasil karya seni tersebut telah dihasilkan pada dua minggu sebelumnya iaitu pada 16 Okt, ketika sesi terapi seni bersama My WIP Healing dan KLSN. Para peserta telah diminta untuk menghasilkan karya seni berdasarkan keadaan mental mereka yang telah pun dinilai oleh modul yang disediakan. Seusai sesi tersebut, KLSN meneruskan aktiviti Sketchwalk di Muzium TM itu. Setiap hasil karya seni dinilaikan sebanyak RM350 dan boleh didapati di pameran KLSN yang seterusnya di Sungai Wang Plaza pada 12 Nov.

“The Art of Healing” telah dianjurkan bersempena “Mental Health Awareness Month” pada setiap bulan Oktober dan bertujuan bagi meningkatkan kesedaran terhadap kesihatan mental dan meleraikan stigma di dalam kalangan masyarakat. Ia bertujuan menjelaskan bagaimana seni mampu digunakan sebagai salah satu cara mengatasi masalah kesihatan mental seperti tekanan dan kebimbangan.

Bagi menyerikan lagi pameran tersebut, terdapat beberapa aktiviti yang dijalankan sepanjang hujung minggu itu, seperti bengkel, sesi perkongsian pengalaman kesihatan mental, sesi seni berkumpulan, tayangan filem kesihatan mental, persembahan komuniti dan yoga. Pameran itu berlangsung bersama aktiviti mingguan, Temu Weekend yang melibatkan peniaga makanan serta minuman dan aktiviti-aktiviti yang menarik.

Yang turut serta terlibat adalah Yayasan Telekom Malaysia (Yayasan TM), Awareness Against Suicide (AWAS), We & I Art, Mental Health Film Festival Malaysia dan Filamen.

“Saya berharap melalui kolaborasi antara pejuang kesihatan mental dan komuniti seni ini, akan menghasilkan lebih banyak kolaborasi seperti program-program seperti ini. Program seperti ini perlu diteruskan bagi kesejahteraan bersama, dalam terma kesihatan mental dan penggunaan seni”, kata Presiden dan Pengasas KLSN, Ahmad Hakym Ahmad Hilmy.

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Mengenai My WIP Healing

My WIP Healing merupakan komuniti permulaan yang memfokuskan inisiatif pemulihan diri dalam kalangan masyarakat. Ia juga berkolaborasi antara pihak berkepentingan dan organisasi-organisasi lain, bertujuan meningkatkan kesedaran terharap kesihatan mental.


Ia juga bermatlamat untuk memulihkan keseimbangan kehidupan harian kita menerusi seni, pendidikan, ekonomi, sosiologi dan nilai kesihatan, ke arah sebuah masyarakat yang menerima dan saksama, menerusi kuasa media sosial.

My WIP Healing boleh dihubungi menerusi Instagram dan Twitter melalui @mywiphealing

Mengenai KL Sketch Nation

KLSN telah diasaskan oleh Ahmad Hakym Ahmad Hilmy pada 2014 dan telah bermula sebagai sebuah komuniti penggiat lakaran di Kuala Lumpur. Kemudiannya berkembang sebagai satu gerakan seni setelah didaftarkan secara rasminya sebagai NGO yang bermatlamat menyebarkan semangat melakar dan kepentingan seni di Malaysia.

Ia juga telah menjalankan aktiviti-aktviti berkaitan seni yang lain, seperti “Ramadhan Sketch Challenge” yang merupakan aktiviti tahunan yang utama, disamping bengkel lukisan kopi dan seminar.

Maklumat lanjut mengenai Sketchwalk dan KLSN, sila layari laman media sosial kami di Facebook, Instagram dan Twitter @klsketchnation.

Anda boleh menghubungi perwakilan kami:

Azalea Azuar

Pengarah Publisiti & Perhubungan Awam

ceazalea2596@gmail.com

Instagram: Leaazpens


Melinda Wong

Pengarah Komunikasi Strategik

melinda.wongsh@gmail.com


Zulaikha Razali

Pengarah Pengurusan Acara

nozuworks@gmail.com



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Kuala Lumpur, 3 November 2022 - A total of 32 members from KL Sketch Nation's (KLSN) #bangsapelakar have got their artworks on display at "The Art of Healing" art exhibition.


The exhibition was organised by the mental health awareness platform My We're In Progress Healing (My WIP Healing) and art shop Nak Seni and was held last weekend on Oct 29 and 30 in Muzium Telekom Malaysia (Muzium TM), KL. Each of these artworks was created two weeks ago (Oct 16) during an art therapy session between My WIP Healing and KLSN. The participants were told to paint their artwork based on their mental state, which was assessed by a module provided. After the session, KLSN held another Sketchwalk at Muzium TM. Each artwork is priced at RM350 and it will be available for KLSN's next exhibition at Sungai Wang Plaza on Nov 12.


The Art of Healing was held in conjunction with Mental Health Awareness Month which falls every October and aims to raise awareness of mental health and break the stigma in society. It also shines the light on how art can be used as a form to relieve mental health problems such as stress and anxiety.


To accompany the exhibition, there were a few activities that were held throughout the weekend which included workshops, mental health experience sharing, group art sessions, mental health film screenings, community performances, and yoga. The exhibition was also held together with Temu Weekends's weekly events which include food vendors and fun activities.


Other partners involved were Yayasan Telekom Malaysia (Yayasan TM), Awareness Against Suicide (AWAS), We & I Art, Mental Health Film Festival Malaysian and Filamen.


"I hope that this collaboration between mental health advocates and the art community will create more collaborations and programmes after this. These types of programmes need to be continued for everyone's well-being, in terms of mental health and the use of arts," said KLSN President and Founder Ahmad Hakym Ahmad Hilmy.


Although mental health issues are the second biggest health issue affecting Malaysians (those that are mainly affected are between the ages of 16 to 19 years), there is still a huge stigma surrounding the community. The lockdowns held during the Covid-19 pandemic have increased the number of mental health issues in Malaysia by two-fold. This results in more and more Malaysians seeking counselling.


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About My WIP Healing


My WIP Healing is a start-up community which focuses on self-healing initiatives between the society. It also collaborates between stakeholders and other organisations to raise awareness on mental health.


It aims to restore balance in our daily life within arts, education, economic, sociology and health values towards an accepting and equal society through the power of social media.


My WIP Healing can be reached through Instagram and Twitter via @mywiphealing


About KL Sketch Nation


KLSN was founded by Ahmad Hakym Ahmad Hilmy in 2014 and started out as a community for sketching enthusiasts in Kuala Lumpur. It later evolved into an art movement after it was officially registered as an NGO which aims to spread the sketching vibes and the importance of arts in Malaysia.


It has also conducted other art-related events such as its flagship annual “Ramadan Sketch Challenge”, Coffee Painting workshops and seminars.


For more information regarding the sketchwalk or KLSN, please check out our social media pages on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @klsketchnation.


You can also contact our representatives:


Azalea Azuar

Director or Publicity & Public Relations

ceazalea2596@gmail.com

Instagram: Leaazpens


Melinda Wong

Director of Strategic Communications

melinda.wongsh@gmail.com

017-641 8601


Zulaikha Razali

Director of Event Management

nozuworks@gmail.com

014-971 5737


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