Entertainment Duty Waiver In Federal Territories To Encourage Local Film Viewing - Fahmi
KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The exemption of entertainment duty on tickets for local films and theatre performances in the Federal Territories under Budget 2027 is expected to provide a fresh boost to efforts to encourage more people to watch local productions, said Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil.
He said the move would ease the burden on cinema operators while having a sustained positive impact on the country's film industry ecosystem.
He said the ministry would engage with the Malaysian Film Exhibitors Association to ensure that the savings from the duty exemption would translate into lower cinema ticket prices in the Federal Territories.
“Since the government has waived the entertainment duty, cinema ticket prices in the Federal Territories must come down, so I will engage with them. This will certainly encourage more people to watch local films,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after the tabling of Budget 2027 by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Dewan Rakyat today.
Elaborating, Fahmi said the industry's growth would also be supported by the expansion of the Filming in Malaysia Incentive, which had been enhanced to drive local film production activities.
Meanwhile, Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said the implementation of the Electronic Medical Records (EMR) project jointly undertaken by the Communications Ministry and the Health Ministry would accelerate digital transformation and improve the quality of the country's public healthcare services.
She said the initiative, supported by funding of up to RM1 billion from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, would modernise patient record management systems at government clinics and hospitals.
“We believe that through this system, people visiting government health clinics and hospitals will receive smoother and more efficient services,” she said.
She said a pilot project for EMR had been implemented previously and would be rolled out comprehensively from next year.
In addition, Teo welcomed the allocation of RM130 million for the creative industry and RM142 million for community networks to strengthen the role of the National Information Dissemination Centres, saying the initiatives could have a positive impact and further narrow the digital communications divide nationwide.
Commenting on the overall Budget, Teo praised the increase in Early Schooling Aid from RM150 to RM200, as well as the introduction of a RM2,500 allowance for Form Six students, saying the measures could ease the financial burden on parents and students alike.
-- BERNAMA