SHAH ALAM: The Selangor government has acquired an old building from Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) in Section 14, which will be turned into the new Shah Alam art gallery.

       Selangor Housing and Culture Committee chairman Borhan Aman Shah said the new gallery is expected to be operational in two years and is estimated to cost about RM30mil.

       He said the state government purchased the building for RM38mil and is obtaining concept drawings from the Public Works Department.

       "We will renovate the building. The good thing is, there is already a vault in the building, and we (the state government) have sought His Highness's (Selangor Sultan, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah) consent to keep high-value paintings there," he told reporters after launching the Shah Alam Gallery Open Exhibition 2024 on Saturday (Jan 27).

       The old Shah Alam Gallery, operational for 33 years, is located on Persiaran Tasik in Section 14.

       Meanwhile, Borhan said about 5,000 visitors are expected to visit the open exhibition that features 52 artworks in various themes from Jan 27 until Feb 29.

       In another development, Borhan said every Thursday, 28,000 Selangor government civil servants will wear the Selangor batik with the Spanish cherry (bunga tanjung) motif with nine petals, the official state flower, adding that it will be extended to the employees of state government-linked companies in stages. – Bernama

       StarPicks

       Unlocking the future after IGCSEs