Sanaa:Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil has highlighted the creative economy sector's potential to significantly drive national economic growth, contributing about 6.8 percent to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, advancements in digital technology have enabled local creative content, including podcasts, music, animation, video games, and social media content, to reach global markets, overcoming geographical limitations. Fahmi emphasized this point during an appearance on the *Jangan Kecam* podcast, noting the global audience reach of locally produced content.
He further explained that this global reach allows for the export of local content and intellectual property (IP), creating broader revenue opportunities for creative industry players. This potential has led to the government's establishment of the Orange Economy Council to support and enhance the creative industry ecosystem in sectors such as film, music, video games, e-sports, and animation.
Fahmi addressed the varying business models of content creators within the creative economy, noting the need to understand these models before determining specific forms of assistance. He mentioned that digital platforms like TikTok, TikTok Shop, Shopee, Facebook Marketplace, and Lazada aid the digital economy's growth by providing support and training related to sales and income generation.
He also highlighted issues such as copyright and artificial intelligence (AI), particularly regarding AI-generated content based on existing intellectual property. Content creators have raised questions about the permissibility of using AI tools to create new music tracks from existing songs, prompting the government to consider interventions to protect intellectual property rights.
Currently, there is no specific funding for content creators, as ministry support is mainly directed towards sectors like film and music. However, the Ministry of Communications and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) offer support to eligible media outlets through the Media Innovation Fund, with an allocation of RM30 million.
Fahmi encouraged creative industry players, including content creators, to utilize tax relief facilities provided by the Inland Revenue Board (IRB) for business-related equipment purchases. He noted that no Malaysian content creators' association has yet officially met with him to discuss specific industry issues, but the government remains open to understanding and addressing their needs and challenges.