Kuala lumpur: The Communications Ministry is advocating for the establishment of an animation division under the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) to bolster the nation's burgeoning animation industry. Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil emphasized that this move is crucial for tapping into the promising potential of the local creative economy.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister Fahmi highlighted the significance of the local animation industry, pointing out its past recognition by international studios that sought Malaysian animators for producing animated content. He referenced the success of "Upin and Ipin," a well-known Malaysian animated series that has become one of the country's best-selling exports, particularly in Indonesia. Fahmi stressed the need for more Malaysian intellectual properties to gain international traction and believes that the creation of an animation division within FINAS is a step towards achieving this goal.

Fahmi shared insights from a recent meeting with the Animation Society of Malaysia (ANIMAS), where he learned that approximately 5,000 of its members are grappling with limited job prospects in the field. To address this, he urged the acceleration of the animation division's establishment within FINAS to tackle these challenges and foster comprehensive sector development. Additionally, he instructed Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) director-general Ashwad Ismail to increase the number of animation titles, thus expanding job opportunities within the industry.

In other developments, Fahmi provided updates on the ongoing process of acquiring and relocating FINAS' headquarters to Menara FINAS Damansara. This involves collaboration with the Public Private Partnership Unit (UKAS) to ensure all project requirements are met prior to the move. He noted that certain technical specifications and administrative processes remain to be finalized, a task expected to take some time.

The minister assured that the Communications Ministry, particularly its Development Division, is closely monitoring the project to expedite its completion, acknowledging that the initiative has faced significant delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and evolving specifications and technologies. He described the new headquarters as comprising two key components: an office tower for staff and production studios. While the office tower is nearly complete, the studios await further equipment specification adjustments, with hopes for relocation by year-end.