KUALA LUMPUR — The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) Act will be tabled for amendment at the next Parliament sitting in October, Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said today.
He said the move would mark the first major update to the Act in several years, noting that many of its provisions are no longer relevant to the realities of today’s film industry.
“We expect the first reading to be tabled in the first week of the Parliament sitting,” he told reporters at a press conference.
Fahmi said he had asked Finas and the ministry to hold early engagement sessions with Members of Parliament to ensure they understood that the amendments are designed to strengthen the local film industry and safeguard its sustainability.
“We will also address issues around the memberships of the board members,” he added.
The press conference was held in conjunction with the launch of Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology’s (TAR UMT) Film Festival 2025, themed ALKISAH: The Wonders of Asian Folklore.
Commending the initiative, Fahmi praised the university and its students for their creativity and contribution to nurturing Malaysia’s film industry while cultivating appreciation for local storytelling.
“I applaud TAR UMT and the faculty for organising this festival because we are building a culture of watching films and trying to understand together,” he said in his keynote address.
Also present at the launch were Finas chief executive officer Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib, TAR UMT Board of Governors and Alumni Council chairman Tan Sri Chan Kong Choy, and TAR UMT president Prof Datuk Dr Lee Sze Wei.
Organised by TAR UMT’s Faculty of Communication and Creative Industries (FCCI), the two-day festival (Sept 11–12) showcases a series of short films produced and curated entirely by students. — September 11, 2025