DAILY EXPRESS pledged its commitment to supporting Sabah’s creative talents through greater industry engagement and platforms that showcase local success stories beyond traditional news coverage.
Its Deputy General Manager, Dexter Yeh, said the state’s creative industry had demonstrated immense potential, with Sabah producing influential and successful figures capable of competing at both national and international levels.
He said the forum brought together some of Sabah’s most prominent creative industry leaders, reflecting the growing strength of the state’s creative economy.
“The creative economy has long been dominated either by the West or by Peninsular Malaysia. In this form, I am very proud to share a room with some of Sabah’s most influential and successful leaders in the creative economy.
“You have truly shown the huge potential that the creative industry has here in Sabah, Malaysia and the world,” he said.
Yeh said Daily Express would continue supporting local artists and creative practitioners not only through news coverage but also by organising initiatives such as the Creative Minds Forum.
He noted that while creative professionals faced numerous challenges, the opportunities available within the industry remained significant.
“There may be many challenges creatives face, but the potential is also immense. As long as we continue inspiring the next generation of creative industry leaders to follow in the footsteps of those here tonight, I am sure more Sabah talents will be recognised around the world,” he said.
Yeh also expressed appreciation to Youth, Sports and Creative Economy Development Minister Datuk Nizam Abu Bakar Titingan for supporting the forum and attending as guest of honour.
He thanked the forum’s panellists — a prominent singer/songwriter cum recording artist Velvet Aduk, a filmmaker cum independent film programmer Nadira Ilana and a prominent artisan cum metal crafter Jasicca Lintaga — for sharing their experiences and insights with participants.
Yeh also acknowledged OITOM and its founder, Chef Raphael Lee, for hosting the event, describing the establishment as an example of how Sabah’s indigenous heritage and local ingredients could be reimagined through contemporary culinary innovation.
He hoped that the forum would serve as a catalyst for positive change within Sabah’s creative economy and encourage greater collaboration among industry stakeholders.
