Kuala lumpur: The government has announced plans to establish the Orange Economic Council as part of its efforts to bolster the creative industry, which is considered a crucial driver of economic growth in light of the ongoing global energy crisis. Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil revealed that the council will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fahmi, who also serves as the MADANI Government spokesperson, stated that the Communications Ministry will act as one of the secretariats, playing a pivotal role in the council's formation. 'Several committees will be formed, and the ministry has been instructed to expedite the establishment of the council, especially as the global energy crisis continues to unfold,' he mentioned during a press briefing following the appointment ceremony of the chairman of the advisory panel of the Johor National Information Dissemination Centre (NADI).

The orange economy, encompassing creative industries like film, music, and animation, contributed 6.8 percent to Malaysia's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024. Fahmi emphasized that the sector could be further reinforced through NADI, which offers infrastructure and high-speed internet facilities to support digital and creative activities.

Currently, there are 1,098 NADI centres across the nation, serving approximately 1.9 million members. Johor alone hosts 101 centres with about 200,000 members. A new NADI centre in Sepanggar, Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, is anticipated to be completed within the next two to three months.

Additionally, Fahmi announced that appointment letters for chairmen of MADANI Communities throughout Johor will be distributed in mid-April. Earlier, he handed out appointment letters to 26 chairmen of the NADI advisory panels in Johor. These appointments aim to enhance community participation, improve programme coordination, and ensure that NADI initiatives better align with local needs.