A total funding allocation of RM 6.7 million for 25 Creative Content Projects was recently announced during the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the Creative Industry Immediate Economic Action Plan (PELAKSANA) in a virtual ceremony held via Zoom on Thursday (Aug 5). The MoU was held between the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) and Sarawak Media Group (SMG), signed by FINAS’ Chief Executive Officer, Dr Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nadzri and SMG’s Chief Executive Officer, Suhaimi Sulaiman.
Suhaimi Sulaiman, CEO of Sarawak Media Group (SMG)
The historic event for the Creative Industry of Sarawak was officially witnessed by YB Dato ‘Saifuddin Abdullah, Minister of Communications and Multimedia and YB Tuan Abdullah Haji Saidol, Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department of Sarawak (Corporate Affairs and Sarawak Public Communications Unit). Also present were FINAS’ Chairman Zakaria Abdul Hamid and SMG’s Chairperson Datuk Norhyati Mohd Ismail.
Dr. Ahmad Idham bin Ahmad Nadzri, CEO of National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS)
Through the collaboration between FINAS and SMG, Sarawak local producers will benefit through a total allocation of RM2.9 million, involving nine (9) creative content projects, encompassing telemovies, drama series, magazines and entertainment. The allocation will also open up employment opportunities to Sarawak’s creative industry players as well as increase the development of creative content human capital among locals. The PELAKSANA initiative is also a proactive measure by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia (KKMM) through FINAS in ensuring that the creative industry can be mobilized quickly to address the negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. PELAKSANA also aims to facilitate and encourage creative industry players in the production, publication and dissemination of creative contents while increasing the production of Malaysian creative content Intellectual Property (IP). Among the strategies under PELAKSANA is FINAS’ cooperation with private sector parties involving local television stations and broadcasters such as SMG.
Virtual Press Conference
Meanwhile, the virtual ceremony also saw the handing over of offer letters for recipients of funds under Borneo Pitch @ PRISMA DKD (Digital Content Fund), which is one of the initiatives under the Malaysian Creative Industry Stimulus Package (PRISMA), involving an allocation of RM3.8 million for the production of sixteen (16) creative content projects including the production of feature films, documentaries, and TV/OTT programs. PRISMA is an initiative launched by KKMM earlier on the 5th of February 2021 to ensure the survival of the country’s creative industry players in the face of the Covid-19 pandemic.
