Kuala Lumpur:The government has announced an allocation of over RM130 million to bolster the creative industry in Malaysia, aiming to enhance the nation's image, generate employment, and bring Malaysian narratives to the international stage, as declared by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Prime Minister Anwar, who also serves as Finance Minister, stated that the funding will benefit the film, music, and creative content sectors. The budget includes incentives for local and international film and animation productions in Malaysia, with additional support for projects that highlight Malaysian culture and national identity.

During the presentation of Budget 2027, themed "Menggapai di Langit, Mengakar di Bumi" (Reaching for the Sky, Rooted in Ground), Anwar revealed that starting in 2027, movie tickets and local theatre performances in the Federal Territories would be exempt from entertainment duty. He urged state governments to adopt similar measures to support local creatives.

Furthermore, Anwar emphasized the enhancement of the local animation ecosystem, aiming to produce 20 new intellectual properties and commercialize Malaysian characters on a global scale. In the realm of artificial intelligence, he highlighted the importance of advancing the Malay language alongside technological developments. The government plans to leverage ministries, agencies, and educational institutions to supply authentic, annotated digital language data to Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka.

Anwar concluded by stressing the necessity of building a digital ecosystem that allows Malaysia to develop AI technology rooted in its national identity.