Creative industry players are calling on the government to maintain and enhance existing funds and incentives in the upcoming Budget 2027, while reviewing television programme production rates, which they say are no longer realistic amid rising costs.
Malaysian Film Producers Association deputy president Datuk Dr Yusof Haslam said government incentives and assistance should be maintained without cuts to safeguard the sustainability of the local creative industry ecosystem.
"I hope the government will look at this from a positive perspective and maintain all the assistance that has been provided to the industry. If there are plans for cuts, I hope they can be avoided,” he said when he appeared as a guest on Bernama TV’s On E programme at Wisma Bernama in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 3.
Yusof also reminded industry players to uphold their responsibilities and integrity when managing any grant or allocation received from the government.
"Filmmakers must complete their films within the allocated budget and take the work seriously. These funds should not be used as a platform to make money for personal gain,” he said.
On the Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI), Yusof said the initiative has not only succeeded in attracting international production companies but has also provided crucial support for large-scale patriotic productions such as Malbatt: Misi Bakara.
He also appealed for television programme production rates, particularly those offered by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), to be reviewed in line with current cost increases, saying there had been no significant adjustment for almost four decades.
"I have been producing television dramas since 1985. At that time, the cost of a TV drama was within RM40,000. But after 40 years, the increase (in RTM’s payment) has only been about RM10,000.
"These rates should be reviewed every 10 years because if RTM increases its rates, other private companies will follow suit,” he said.
Meanwhile, film producer Nazira Ibrahim said the creative sector is a comprehensive ecosystem that requires consistent support, particularly in film marketing and distribution, to assist smaller-scale productions.
"Sometimes we have good products and compelling stories, but we have no avenue to market and distribute them to audiences. If the government can assist in developing these mechanisms, it could significantly raise the profile of our films and help them reach both local and international audiences,” she said.
On the RM10mill allocation for TVET MADANI Creative Multimedia programmes, Nazira called for practical training on film sets to be prioritised over theoretical learning to produce highly skilled technical personnel behind the scenes.
"Skills are needed not only for those in front of the camera, such as the actors, scriptwriters and directors, but are equally important for people working behind the scenes, including camera operators, lighting crews and those handling visual effects, post-production and sound systems.
"Theoretical exposure alone is not enough. Students need industry training with production companies and should be exposed to actual film sets to see firsthand how a production operates,” she said.
Under Budget 2026, the government allocated RM110mil in incentives to encourage local and international film producers to create high-quality productions in Malaysia.
The initiative included a dedicated RM10mil allocation for the production of nation-building content as part of efforts to strengthen the orange economy ecosystem.
Budget 2027 is scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on Oct 9. – Bernama
