Kuala lumpur: The Communications Ministry announced several incentives as government initiatives and commitments in an effort to ensure the welfare of professionals and the sustainability of the country's creative industry.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil stated that among the initiatives was the collaboration between the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) and the Malaysian Department of Insolvency aimed at reducing the financial burden and improving the well-being of industry players.
He highlighted that for the sustainability of the creative industry, the ministry launched the RM10 million Citra Fund, focusing on the development of content based on national identity, including feature films, documentaries, and short films. Fahmi emphasized the government's ongoing support for artists, professionals, and all workers involved in the creative and film industry, which extends beyond financial aid to address legal challenges, particularly for those facing bankruptcy.
The announcement was made during the 2026 Seniman Symposium, with attendance from key figures including Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching, Communications Ministry secretary-general Datuk Abdul Halim Hamzah, and FINAS chairman Datuk Hans Isaac.
Fahmi expressed confidence in the newly signed collaboration between FINAS and the Insolvency Department, which aims to assist artists and professionals in the creative industry who are dealing with bankruptcy to regain stability and continue their work.
In addition, the government has allocated RM300 million through FINAS under the Filming Incentive in Malaysia (FIMI) over five years to attract international productions to the country, a move anticipated to boost job opportunities for local artists and sustain the creative industry.
Fahmi also addressed the challenges posed by artificial intelligence (AI) technology, urging FINAS to examine legal and copyright aspects to protect artists and filmmakers' rights as AI advances in producing videos with lifelike actor features. He noted the importance of safeguarding artists' faces and voices, which are their primary assets, in this evolving technological landscape.