PETALING JAYA: The creative industry should be given greater space and freedom to grow, with more done to attract the young to local films to reconnect them with the nation’s cultural identity, says the Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said the country needed to strike a balance between creating a freer and more open environment for artistes and remaining rooted in its culture, values and morality.
“I do not want to portray myself as overly liberal or conservative. If the government is serious, then we must acknowledge that young people and audiences desire an atmosphere that is freer and more open.
“This does not mean we must follow Western models. We must remain rooted in culture, values and morality but also be more open,” he said when officiating the Menara National Film Development Corp Malaysia (Finas) in Damansara Damai yesterday.
Anwar said he feared that if things were too suppressed, the national arts industry, especially film, would not succeed.
“The government wants to ensure there is a more open space so artistes do not feel too pressured and restricted.
“I understand that we want to preserve our identity and our morals, but we don’t have to follow the model of other countries,” he added.
He urged Finas to play a role in connecting young audiences with cultural identity through film, adding that without openness and engagement, the industry risked being sidelined.
“I am confident that alongside the economic priorities we have discussed and the focus on advancing the economy and empowering people’s lives, we must also ensure Malaysians can enjoy a country that is beautiful, joyful, strong and excellent through its arts, culture and film,” he added.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said Finas should continue strengthening its three core functions of developing, regulating and preserving the national film industry.
He said the approved third amendment to the Finas Act should not be seen as an end in itself, but as a means to improve how the agency organised and regulated the industry, safeguarded workers and remained relevant in the years ahead.
He outlined the National Film Policy 2026-2035, which he said was built on four pillars which included strengthening the content business ecosystem across film, TV and over-the-top (OTT) platforms.
“There is also the need to position Malaysia as a premier production and animation hub by offering competitive incentives, world‑class production facilities, virtual production, one‑stop facilitation, international co‑production and technology transfer.
“The policy also includes strengthening of copyright and content monetisation. This will enable creators and producers to own and commercialise intellectual property through financing, licensing, merchandising, franchising and cross‑media exploitation, including international protection for export purposes,” he added.
Fahmi acknowledged that some workers in the industry were unpaid even after films were completed and ready to be screened, despite government funding under the policy.
He called for such practices to end, and said the new amendments were designed to ensure fair contracts, timely payment and proper protection for creative workers.
The minister also highlighted the impact of the Film in Malaysia Incentive (Fimi) under Finas, which drew nearly RM958mil in production investment and created over 12,800 jobs between 2024 and 2026.
Following strong performance at global film markets, he said Malaysia was committing RM300mil to extend these incentives while launching new programmes to support emerging directors, international distribution and talent development.
