KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) – The government is allocating over RM130 million to empower the creative industry, to raise the nation's image, create jobs and bring Malaysian stories to the world stage, said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Anwar, who is also Finance Minister, said the funding will support the film, music and creative content sectors.
"This includes incentives for local and international film and animation productions filmed in Malaysia, plus additional incentives for works that showcase our culture and nationhood," he said when tabling Budget 2027, themed "Menggapai di Langit, Mengakar di Bumi" (Reaching for the sky, Rooted in Ground), in the Dewan Rakyat today.
From 2027, he said, movie tickets and local theatre performances in the Federal Territories will be fully exempt from entertainment duty.
"We call on state governments to follow suit to encourage local creatives," he added.
Anwar said the local animation ecosystem will be bolstered to produce 20 new intellectual properties and commercialise Malaysian characters globally.
"In the age of artificial intelligence, the Malay language must advance in step with technology. The government will mobilise the full strength of ministries, agencies and educational institutions to contribute authentic, annotated digital language data to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka," he said.
Building a digital ecosystem, he said, is essential for Malaysia to develop its own AI technology rooted in national identity.
-- BERNAMA