KUALA LUMPUR: The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) Act will be tabled for amendment in the next Parliament meeting in October, says Datuk Fahmi Fadzil.
The Communications Minister said this would mark the first major update in several years, as many of the provisions in the Act are no longer relevant to today’s film industry.
“We expect the first reading to be tabled in the first week of the Parliament sitting,” he said at a press conference on Thursday (Sept 11).
Fahmi said he had requested Finas and the ministry to hold early engagement sessions with Members of Parliament to ensure they understand that the amendments are aimed at strengthening the local film industry and ensuring its sustainability.
“We will also address issues around the memberships of the board members,” he added.
The press conference was held in conjunction with the launch of Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology (TAR UMT)’s Film Festival 2025: ALKISAH: The Wonders of Asian Folklore.
Commending the initiative, Fahmi praised the varsity and its students for their creativity and commitment to nurturing Malaysia’s film industry and cultivating an appreciation for local storytelling.
“I applaud TAR UMT and the faculty for organising this festival because we are building a culture of watching films and trying to understand together,” he said in his keynote address.
Also present were Finas chief executive officer Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, TAR UMT Board of Governors and Alumni Council chairman Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, and TAR UMT president Prof Datuk Dr Lee Sze Wei.
Organised by the varsity’s Faculty of Communication and Creative Industries (FCCI), the two-day festival (Sept 11 to 12) features a showcase of short films, all produced and curated by students.
