KULAI: Individuals and production companies that fail to deliver films from the grants provided by the Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (Finas) will be blacklisted from receiving any assistance in the future.
Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching said 47 individuals and production companies were identified to have not delivered any films, despite receiving the grants.
“All 47 of them have received a ‘letter of demand’, and only three have responded to it, and in reimbursing the money proved that they admit wrongdoing.
“For those who do not respond within the given time, Finas will proceed with legal action,” she told Bernama after presenting Raya clothing in conjunction with the Cahaya Ramadan Bersama Telekom Malaysia (TM) programme at Mydin Mall here yesterday.
Also present were TM Foundation director Ainol Shaharina Shahar and TM Johor director Md Naziruddin Abd Moez.
Teo, who is Kulai MP, said this in response to a news report that Finas had sued 47 individuals and production companies after they were found to have failed to produce any films using the RM20mil that was given to them.
She said strict action should be taken against the defaulters as the funds given to them was public money to help local production houses develop the film industry.
The ministry, she said, had asked Finas to review the standard operating procedure regarding the awarding of grants to applicants to prevent misappropriation.
“The government will not abolish the fund. We need them (Finas) to make improvements to the SOP,” she added.
Earlier, Teo presented Aidilfitri donations worth RM200 each, comprising RM150 from TM Foundation and RM50 from the Kulai MP herself, to 70 students from the B40 group.
On Friday, Finas chief executive officer Prof Dr Md Nasir Ibrahim was reported to have said that funds to produce films amounting to RM20mil given to 47 production companies was allegedly misappropriated for personal gain, including for home renovations and vacations.
