THE Penang government welcomes any initiative to assist the Penang House of Music (PHoM) to continue being a centre for music heritage.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the Penang government had helped the centre in whatever ways possible.
“Over the past years, the state government has given substantial grants to PHoM annually.
“The annual RM500,000 grant was provided to PHoM with the expectation that it will be utilised optimally, covering various expenses such as rent and other operational costs.
“However, it is understood that the PHoM is vacating its current space owing to unresolved rent dues. The resolution of this issue rests with the premises owner and the tenant.
Chow emphasised that the success of a business ultimately falls on the shoulders of the entrepreneur.
“While the state may provide grants as a form of assistance, their effectiveness depends on the entrepreneur’s ability to manage them proficiently,” he explained today when asked by a journalist if the state could do more to assist PHoM.
On its Facebook page, PHoM, which was set up in 2016, mentioned that it will be closing its doors for good on March 16. It was reported that Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil had directed MyCreative Ventures, a Federal Government investment arm launched in September 2012 to spur Malaysia’s creative industry, to help PHoM resolve its operational problems.