Kuala lumpur: More Indian artists are encouraged to take advantage of the various funding opportunities available through MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd (MyCV) to help them grow and showcase their creative works. Communications Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching said while the government continues to support the creative sector through MyCV's grants, financing schemes, and loans, the level of participation from the Indian community remains low compared to the overall number of beneficiaries.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, as of Sept 30 this year, a total of 234 beneficiaries have received support under the Creative Content Fund (DKK) managed by MyCV, of which 206 are from Peninsular Malaysia, 16 from Sabah, and 12 from Sarawak. Out of this total, only eight are Indian-owned companies, receiving a combined amount of over RM700,000. Teo expressed hope to see more applications from the Indian community, as well as from Chinese-owned companies and creators from Sabah and Sarawak.
Teo made these remarks at a press conference on the RTM-Astro collaboration held in conjunction with the Deepavali celebration. The deputy minister encouraged Indian musicians, producers, and digital content creators to seek application guidance for the DKK fund, which ensures equal opportunities for all, including East Malaysians and other minorities.
Citing the success of Tamil hip hop artist Balan Kash as an example, whose album "CEKAP" was supported by MyCV, Teo highlighted that the album combines modern hip hop with traditional Dikir Barat, making Balan only the second Tamil artist to incorporate the traditional Malay art form into his music. Two tracks from "CEKAP" have also been nominated for the 24th Anugerah Industri Muzik (AIM24), indicating the recognition of Balan's innovative work by the music industry. Balan recently performed at 'Titikkum Deepavali Kondattam,' further energizing the celebration of local talent.
Teo emphasized the need for more Indian artists to step forward and take advantage of these opportunities, assuring them that with the right support, their talents can achieve greater heights. She explained that over the four years from 2022 to 2025, MyCV's 18 DKK programmes have resulted in 129 beneficiaries completing their projects and creating over 9,000 job opportunities nationwide, with six programmes completed and 12 still in progress.
The ministry will continue promoting awareness about MyCV's ongoing funding opportunities, including the International and Domestic Marketing and Promotion Funds, which remain open for applications until Dec 1. Teo noted that while many in the industry are aware of the fund, some may still not know about it, which is why the ministry is maximizing publicity to encourage more creators to apply, especially those from the Indian community.