Kuala lumpur: The national film industry has secured investment commitments worth RM486 million through the Film in Malaysia Incentive (FiMI) at MIPCOM 2025, the world’s largest content market held in Cannes last October, according to Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil. He stated that the investment is expected to generate up to 1,500 jobs for local industry players and deliver an estimated economic return of RM1.66 billion.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fahmi instructed the Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (FINAS) chief executive officer and chairman to prepare next year’s strategic plan, aiming for more comprehensive promotional and investment-attraction efforts. Fahmi made these remarks while winding up the debate on the FINAS (Amendment) Bill 2025, which was later passed by the Dewan Rakyat with a majority voice vote today.
The government has allocated RM110 million for FiMI next year, offering a 30 percent rebate for productions filmed in Malaysia, with an additional five percent for incorporating local cultural elements. Fahmi emphasized that FiMI is a competitive incentive, noting that many Southeast Asian countries offer attractive locations, fostering healthy competition within the region.
Fahmi also clarified that the government has no plans to impose film-production requirements, filming certificates, or FINAS permits on influencers or podcasters, nor to introduce licensing rules for OTT (over-the-top) streaming platforms at this time. The Communications Ministry is updating the National Film Policy following the amendment to the FINAS Act 1981, aiming to strengthen industry development, governance, and enforcement without restricting creative freedom.
The amendments will broaden regulatory scope to cover new technologies, including digital platforms, while subsidiary regulations will be adjusted to provide clearer protections for industry workers, covering welfare, standard contracts, job security, payment terms, and production safety. The changes aim to ensure policy coherence and support the direction and vision of FINAS as a leader of the national film industry and a catalyst for local creative content development.