Establishment of the Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan
(1) There shall be established an academy to be known as the “Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan Kebangsaan” (hereinafter referred to as “the Akademi”).
(2) The Akademi shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession, and with full power and authority under such name—
(a) to sue and be sued;
(b) to have and use a common seal and from time to time to break, change, alter or make anew such seal as it shall deem fit;
(c) to enter into contracts, to acquire, take, hold and enjoy movable and immovable property of every description, including any such property which may become vested in it by purchase, or by any exchange, grant, donation, lease, testamentary disposition or otherwise;
(d) to convey, assign, surrender, yield up, charge, sell, mortgage, lease, exchange, demise, reassign, transfer or otherwise dispose of, or deal with, any movable or immovable property of any description or any interest therein vested in the Akademi upon such terms as it deems fit;
(e) to exercise, perform and discharge, in accordance with the provisions of this Act, all powers, functions and duties conferred, provided or imposed upon the Akademi by such provisions.
(3) Subject to the approval of the Minister, the Akademi may provide studies, courses and training in the fields of culture, arts and heritage which in particular may include fine art, cinematography or filming, choreography, drama, stage or cinematic acting, stage management, photography, designing, creative arts, dance, creative writing, screen play, script writing, archiving or subject pertaining to the archives, library science or subjects pertaining to library, museum subjects, television or electronic media productions, music and such other studies, course or training as the Board may decide from time to time.
Non-application of Act 30, Act 550 and Act 555
The Universities and University Colleges Act 1971 [Act 30], Education Act 1996 [Act 550] and Private Higher Educational Institutions Act 1996 [Act 555] shall not apply to the Akademi.
Powers of the Akademi
The Akademi shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, have the following powers:
(a) to provide courses of study, to make provision for research, to hold examinations and to take such other steps as may appear necessary or desirable for education and training in the fields enumerated under subsection 3(3) or as determined by the Board and approved by the Minister from time to time;
(b) to confer internationally recognised academic and professional qualifications or awards, diplomas, certificates and other academic distinctions upon persons who have followed courses of study approved by the Akademi and have satisfied such other requirements as may be determined by the Board;
(c) to confer awards on persons who have contributed to the advancement or dissemination of knowledge or who have rendered distinguished public service as may be recommended by the Board, in the fields of culture, arts and heritage;
(d) to determine and prescribe the qualifications for the purpose of admission to the courses of study and examinations of the Akademi;
(e) to set up posts for academic and training purposes, lectureships, and other posts and offices, and to make appointments thereto;
(f) to award recognitions, medals, prizes and other forms of distinctions or assistance in respect of the education and training provided by or in the Akademi;
(g) to enter into contracts and to appoint such staff either local or foreign, on terms agreed by both parties as may be required for the purposes of the Akademi;
(h) to grant loans or advances to the staff of the Akademi in pursuit of academic excellence;
(i) to grant loans or financial assistance to deserving students on such terms and conditions as may be approved by the Board;
(j) to conduct research and production for the effective promotion and utilization of the research findings of the Akademi;
(k) to market and franchise the services, research findings, and products, of the Akademi;
(l) to demand and receive such fees as may from time to time be determined by the Board, or as may be prescribed;
(m) to do all such acts and things, whether or not incidental to the powers aforesaid, as may be requisite in order to supplement, complement, improve or fulfil the objectives of the Akademi.
Faculties, Departments or Centres
(1) The Akademi may establish faculties, departments or centres as may, from time to time, be determined by the Board, and such faculties, departments or centres shall bear such names as the Board may assign to them.
(2) A faculty, department or centre shall be headed by a person to be appointed by the Rector.
(3) The head of a faculty, department or centre shall be responsible to the Rector and shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him by the Rector.
Conduct of study, jointly, etc., with any University, etc.
(1) The Akademi may, with the prior written approval of the Minister—
(a) conduct any course of study jointly or in association, affiliation, collaboration or by way of franchise or otherwise, with any University, University College, higher educational institution, or professional body, or any organization, within or outside Malaysia; and
(b) conduct any such course of study either wholly or partly within or outside Malaysia.
(2) The approval of the Minister under subsection (1) may be made subject to such terms and conditions as the Minister may deem fit to specify.
(3) The Minister shall not give approval under subsection (1) unless he is satisfied that the Akademi has made all necessary arrangements with the University, University College, higher educational institution, or professional body, or organization concerned for the conduct of the course of study.
(4) In this section, “affiliation” includes the conduct of twinning programmes.
Source: Laws of Malaysia, Attorney General's Chambers of Malaysia (lom.agc.gov.my). Not a copy of the Gazette printed by the Government Printer (Interpretation Acts 1948 and 1967, s 61).
