adminKUALA LUMPUR: National voice art icon, Datuk Syafinaz Selamat has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Academy of Arts, Culture and Heritage (ASWARA) for a period of two years starting from April 1, 2026 to March 31, 2028.
This marks a new phase in efforts to strengthen the country’s arts, culture and heritage education institutions, according to ASWARA in a statement today.
The appointment is seen as being able to strengthen ASWARA’s role as an institution of higher learning in arts, culture and heritage under the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
It also drives the transformation of arts education through strengthening governance, talent development and closer collaboration with local and international creative industries.
ASWARA Board of Directors Meeting Number 1 of 2026, chaired by Syafinaz on June 25, was also followed by the Ceremony of Handing Over the Letters of Appointment of the new Board of Directors.
Also present was ASWARA Rector, Ainu Sham Ramli, along with the newly appointed board members, as a symbol of commitment to strengthening governance and empowering the institution’s strategic direction.
The new leadership brings together figures from various fields including media, academia, culture and the creative industry.
Among those appointed are Kamaruddin Mape, Mohd Amran Mohd Haris, Zainariah Johari, Ahmad Zainuddin and Ahmad Azaini Abdul Manaf.
ASWARA is confident that the combined expertise of the new leadership will strengthen the country’s arts education ecosystem through a more progressive curriculum, strategic networking with industry players and the development of globally competitive creative human capital, thus increasing the marketability of graduates to meet the needs of the country’s creative arts industry.
-Agency
