Motac and Communications Ministry looking RM35mil Penjana Digital Fund

KUALA LUMPUR: The Tourism, Arts and Culture ministry (Motac) is in the process of discussing the scope of its responsibility with regards to the RM35mil Penjana digital Content Fund initiative with the Communications and Multimedia Ministry.

Motac Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri (pic) said this comes as many local artistes are looking for avenues to get assistance.

“We are discussing our respective scopes from time to time.There are still some gray areas which have not been identified,” she said at a press conference on Tuesday (Aug 11) at the Arts and Culture Academy (Aswara) near here.

The Penjana Digital Content Fund under the Malaysia Digital Economy Corp will be used to develop and strengthen Malaysia's digital creative content industry.

In her speech, Nancy said that the Ministry intends to uphold the cause of the music and arts industry as it plays an important role in uniting and binding a multicultural society, such as in Malaysia.

She said the ministry had disbursed RM668,000 to 243 non-governmental organisations which are linked to the arts and culture industry.

Nancy and National Unity Minister Datuk Halimah Sadique were attending the launch of late Blues Gang bassist Jim Madasamy's blues album in Tamil – the very first of its kind in Malaysia.

The album was produced 12 years ago before Madasamy's death in 2018, but was only released now.

An Artistes' Fund in the musician's name was also launched to help local artistes who are in poor health and are going through tough times.

Amalan Setar (M) Sdn Bhd executive director Datuk Seri Rajendran Ramasamy had donated RM100,000 to kickstart the fund.

At the event, a sum token was presented to 10 artistes in need of support and to Madasamy's widow Soo Leak Meng.