MALAYSIA

Official Country Name MALAYSIA

Languages BAHASA MALAYSIA

Population 31,809,660

Median Age 28.7

GDP Per Capita US $29,100

Source: CIA World Factbook

Total Value of Art Exported (UN Comtrade Database 2018) US $3,337,209

Arts Funding (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture) US $44,349,000

Art Programs (University Level) 5

Student Enrollment 2,426

Source: Ministry of Finance, AAP (non-official)

Museums Exhibiting Contemporary Art 11

Contemporary Art Galleries (Commercial) 55

Contemporary Art Spaces (Nonprofit) 15

Art Foundations (NGO + Private) 18

Source: AAP (non-official)

Acknowledgments: Rohaida Ali, Bibi Chew, Shyan Y Hon, Lee Khai, Sulizah Abdul Salam

One year since the coalition party Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) ended the 61-year rule of Barisan Nasional in a surprise electoral upset, ushering in what has been dubbed “Malaysia Baru” (the New Malaysia), restrictions on the media have been relaxed, though economic and education reforms have yet to be realized. Meanwhile, the embezzlement trials of former president Najib Razak and his co-conspirators, including art collector Jho Low, continue.

In the cultural was established in 2017 to stimulate the arts through marketing, funding, and policy-making. CENDANA has received RM 5 million (USD 1.2 million) in public funds to support the presentation of exhibitions at local platforms in 2020.