Government Targets RM33 Billion From Creative Content Industry

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 25 (Bernama) -- The government is targeting RM33 billion from the creative content industry towards the Gross National Income (GNI) by 2020, Tourism and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said today.

"In 2008 the industry contributed RM9.4 billion or 1.27 percent of the GNI with a workforce of 45,000. "The figure increased to 5.8 percent in 2010 with a workforce of 100,000," he said in his speech at the Royal Arts Gala 2014 at the Royal Museum (Old National Palace) here.

Also present were the Ministry's secretary-general Datuk Dr Ong Hong Peng and Department of Culture and National Arts (JKKN) director-general Datuk Norliza Rofli.

Themed 'The Arts, The Soul of A Nation', the iconic event was organised by the My Performing Arts Agency (MyPAA) in collaboration with JKKN, the Ministry of Tourism and Culture and the Performance Management and Delivery Unit (Pemandu) in conjunction with Visit Malaysia Year 2014.

The fund raising gala is aimed at enhancing the local arts scene and encouraging the private sector to support artistic and cultural development in the country.

Mohamed Nazri said the first event in 2013 had raised RM740,000 through the sale and sponsorship of tables at the gala by the corporate sector. "The funds were distributed to 31 Malaysian artistes to implement activities related to the development of the performing arts such as promoting Malaysian artistes and works abroad, research and stage management," he said.

He said JKKN had implemented 228 programmes to develop the industry between 2012 and 2013 under the short-term national creative industry policy.

The gala included a 45-minute musical by the famous director Adlin Aman Ramlie starring local artistes such as Ezlynn, Tony Eusoff and Adibah Noor. Mohamed Nazri presented the Creative Arts Veteran award to Yayasan Sutra chairman Datuk Ramli Ibrahim and Corporate Arts Veteran award to Tan Sri Datuk Dr Wan Mohd Zahid Mohd Noordin who represented the Sime Darby Foundation to recognise their contributions to Malaysia's arts scene.
-bernama.