Artistes upbeat over higher tax relief for sponsors

THE higher tax relief for art sponsorship, from RM500,000 to RM700,000, will encourage the private sector to take note of the arts community here, said The Actors Studio Malaysia co-founder Datuk Faridah Merican.

“We are always short of funds. Without money, we can’t do good theatre,” she said, adding that the move was good news for the industry.

Faridah added that the money would also allow production houses to pay the actors and performers better.

Catwoman Productions founder and actress Susan Lankester said the higher relief will help turn around a bad year for the local arts scene.

“With the tax deduction, private companies can afford to throw some money into the arts scene now,” she said, adding that this will create better quality productions.

Kakiseni president Low Ngai Yuen, meanwhile, had hoped for art shows to be included under the lifestyle tax relief category.

“If you attend shows, that actually helps to raise the quality of lifestyle,” she said, adding that the Government should consider including the arts under the lifestyle category in the next Budget.

Sutra Dance Theatre artistic director Datuk Ramli Ibrahim said the Government should also actively engage with the artistic community, instead of just the private sector.