Istana Budaya Appoints New Director General
3 October 2022 marks an important date for Zubaidah Mukhtar as she was appointed to be Istana Budaya’s Director General. Zubaidah Mukhtar was born on 20 April 1968 in Kedah, Malaysia. She received her primary and secondary education at Sultanah Asma School, Alor Setar, Kedah from 1975 to 1985. She was then enrolled at Preparatory College for American Associate Degree Programs (AAD) from 1986 to 1988. She then left for the United States of America to continue her tertiary education at the University of Texas, El Paso, and her further education at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa. Zubaidah returned to Malaysia and joined the civil service in 1992.
She has held important positions in the civil service, such as Assistant Secretary in the International Cultural Relations Unit (Ministry of Culture, Arts and Tourism Malaysia), Director of Marketing & PR (Istana Budaya), Senior Principal Assistant Secretary in Culture Policy & Strategic Planning Division (Ministry of Information, Communications and Culture, Malaysia), Senior Principal Assistant Secretary Culture Division (Policy) (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture), Senior Director Arts Guidance Division (National Department for Culture and Arts) and as Senior Director Policy and Research Division at the National Department for Culture & Arts before being appointed as the Director General of Istana Budaya.
Her contribution to the civil service has led her to win numerous awards, such as Excellence Service Award 1996, 2004 & 2015, MAKUM Sponsorship Initiative Award 2015 by the University of Sultan Zainal Abidin, Terengganu, and Excellence PUSPANITA Member Award 2015 by President of PUSPANITA. Zubaidah was not only known for her leadership skills but also for her ability to nurture organisations and community projects involving women, she was the Committee Member of Women’s Affairs since 2017 and was elected as Deputy Chairman of PUSPANITA, National Department for Culture and Arts. Her excellent social skills have drawn people’s attention to her. She is also well known for her style of grooming the younger generation to be more outspoken and substantial.
For her utmost support to the arts and culture development in Malaysia, Zubaidah was recently appointed to be the Governing Board Member (GBM) by the SEAMEO Regional Centre for History and Tradition (SEAMEO CHAT) from 2021 to 2024. SEAMEO CHAT’s main objective is to promote regional cooperation in the region’s education, science, and culture. Zubaidah being the GBM plays a key role to provide support and advice on key points and/or agreements that require follow-up actions by the SEAMEO centres and/or network.
For 2023, She is on a mission to establish a Performing Arts Association that will provide information about Istana Budaya and details of venue providers worldwide. She also looks forward to collaborating with venues and organisers that will significantly impact the arts and entertainment industry. Zubaidah also anticipates bringing National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), Orchestra Traditional Malaysia (OTM), and Artis Tari Istana Budaya out of the region to acknowledge people around the world about Malaysia’s multi-racial culture, music, and humanity.