Prime Minister YAB Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today proudly announced in an official statement that the Malaysian media entertainment and creative industry will now be reopened to all fully vaccinated Malaysians in all Phase One status states under the National Recovery Plan (NRP) beginning 9th September 2021, including Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. This timely announcement will help rescue 1 million entertainment and creative industry personalities, including activists, production crews, artists and employees, representing almost 20,000 companies.
The agreement to grant this waiver is subject to the conditions of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) approved by the National Security Council (NSC), to those who have received two full doses of COVID-19 vaccine as well as the permitted premise space capacity. This flexibility is also given based on the factor to states that have reached the status of 80 percent of the adult population receiving two complete doses of the vaccine or have reached cluster immunity levels.
The media entertainment and creative industry has contributed 2% or RM29 billion of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2019, and is an integral contribution and support to more than a million personalities who have been looking forward to begin working and earning a living again since the interruption of Covid-19 last year. This will also revive all current and future initiatives and programs planned by the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia Malaysia (KKMM) through the National Film Development Corporation (FINAS), MyCreative Ventures, Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and the Cultural Economy Development Agency (CENDANA).
Accordingly, beginning September 9, 2021, all creative industry activists complete two doses of the vaccine will be allowed to return to activity in states that are in Phase 1 for the following activities:
- TV & Film development & production, including live broadcasting;
- Broadcast recording or live broadcasting in the form of news and entertainment presentation in the presence of a vaccinated audience in a studio with a 30% audience capacity;
- TV & filming activities within the studio and outdoor location for individuals who have completed vaccinations;
- Indoor busking to individuals who have been vaccinated;
- Performances in hotel lounges to individuals who have been vaccinated;
- Cinema operations for vaccinated individuals with 50% capacity in the cinema screening halls,
- Live performance activities such as theater, musicals, music and comedy (pre-registered) with vaccinated spectators and audience capacity with 30% capacity in the hall; and
- Art exhibition activities in exhibition halls, museums and art galleries (by appointment) with visitors who have been vaccinated with a visitor capacity of 30% in the hall.
In the mean time, the Prime Minister has given a reminder to all parties involved in the opening of this sector to always adhere to the conditions and procedures set to avoid any risks and legal, safety and health implications, especially in the country’s efforts to move into the endemic phase by the end of October.
