MELAKA: The Communications and Multimedia Ministry (K-KOMM) is targeting to draw 20,000 visitors to the third edition of the Kembara RIUH Keluarga Malaysia programme themed ‘Riuh Nau!’ at Dataran Pahlawan here from Friday (Aug 5) until Sunday.
Its minister, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, said this was in line with the government’s initiative to reinvigorate the creative industry during the country’s transition to endemic phase, given the importance of arts and creative culture in national development.
"The Kembara Riuh Keluarga Malaysia programme throughout the country, led by K-KOMM through MyCreative Ventures (MyCreative), is a platform for delivering information about the government’s initiatives in driving this industry.
"Besides mobilising art activists to generate income from creative arts and indirectly contribute to the country’s economy, it also shows the government’s commitment to recognising the creative industry as one of the strategic industries with high impact and given special focus under the 12th Malaysia Plan,” he said in a statement on Friday night.
He explained that efforts to develop the local creative ecosystem were implemented immediately through a strategic alliance that brings together brand creators, creative entrepreneurs and artists with the local community.
"As such, the Riuh programme, which previously focused on the Klang Valley area, has been expanded to Ayer Hitam, Johor and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah through a series of the Kembara Riuh Keluarga Malaysia to assist art activists, especially those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Annuar also said that the government is always concerned about the survival of the creative industry, adding that financial assistance in the form of loans and grants amounting to RM447.7mil has benefited a total of 949 art activists and entrepreneurs since the establishment of MyCreative in 2012.
In addition, he said, a total of RM10.93mil has also been channelled into developing the industry, which has helped more than 900 activists and entrepreneurs from various dimensions, including film, creative content, music, performing arts, visual arts, literature and design arts, to generate income.
"We need to fully optimise the potential of this industry so that the government’s aim to raise the creative industry’s contribution to the country’s Gross Domestic Product to 20 per cent, estimated at RM31.9bil by 2025, can be realised,” he said.
In the meantime, Annuar also thanked Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Sulaiman Md Ali and the state government for their cooperation in organising the Riuh Nau! programme.
"Insya Allah, Riuh Nau! will receive an overwhelming response from art activists and visitors, especially from Melaka and nearby states,” he said. - Bernama
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