Gerakan welcomes the Cabinet’s decision to review outdated rigid rules pertaining to locally-made movies, saying it will encourage the growth of local talents and creative industries.

Gerakan deputy secretary-general Liang Teck Meng said today that it was also in line with the government’s decision to advocate the 1Malaysia movie concept that is inclusive and diversified.

“We are also glad and want to thank the government for agreeing not to impose the 20% entertainment tax on the locally-made movie, Ice Kachang Puppy Love,” said Liang in a statement.

Liang, who is also Simpang Renggam Member of Parliament, recalled that Gerakan president and Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Tan Sri Dr Koh Tsu Koon was the one who came up with the idea that any locally-made movie with 1Malaysia contents regardless of languages used like Ice Kacang Puppy Love should not be classified as foreign movie, subjected to 20% entertainment tax when the issue first emerged.

The movie featuring Malaysian actors and actresses such as Tan Kheng Seong, popularly known as Ah Niu, was released on April 14 this year.

Tan had earlier expressed unhappiness over the imposition of the entertainment tax as the movie was considered a foreign movie because it did not use more than 70% Bahasa Malaysia.

It was reported in the newspapers yesterday that the Cabinet had agreed in principle to waive the entertainment tax for the movie and also to review outdated rules pertaining to locally-made movies.

Under the law, local movies using more than 70% of Bahasa Malaysia need not have to pay entertainment tax.