POLICY ON CREATIVE INDUSTRY IN MID-2010, SENATE TOLD

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 22 (Bernama) -- A competitive and comprehensive policy on
the creative industry is expected to be formulated in the middle of next year,
Malaysian Deputy Information Communication and Culture Minister Joseph Salang
Gandum said Monday.

He said the policy covered such areas as the film, drama and animation
sectors as well as culture and heritage components such as craft, visual arts
and performing arts.

"The ministry will ensure the participation of various quarters such as the
creative industry itself, non-governmental organisations and other ministries or
departments in the effort to ensure maximum impact of the policy for the
people's benefit," he said when winding up debate on the 2010 Supply Bill in the
Senate.

Salang said RM200 million (US$58.1 million) had been allocated for the
development of the industry, which would be channelled to Bank Simpanan
Nasional, a government owned bank in Malaysia, next year and made available as
loans for all branches of the creative industry.

He also said that foreign films, dramas and programmes did not dominate air
time on Radio [and] Television of Malaysia),a Malaysian state-owned public
broadcaster as claimed by some people.

"The ministry always gives space to local artistes. RTM stations have
decided that television content is to be 70 per cent local and 30 per cent
foreign to cater to a varied taste," he said.

Salang said RTM was trying to minimise as much as possible the purchase of
foreign dramas.

-- BERNAMA