Gerakan has urged the government to relax rigid rules in order to encourage the growth of local talents and creative industries as well as advocating the 1Malaysia movie concept that is inclusive and diversified.

Gerakan deputy secretary-general Liang Teck Meng said some stringent rules if applied rigorously would stifle and not promote local creative talents and industries, including the one insisting that any locally-made movie must use more than 70% Bahasa Malaysia, otherwise they would be considered as a foreign movie, subjected to 20% entertainment tax.

“Government should facilitate and not frustrate the development of local creative talents and industries. There should be no hindrance or red tape,” he said in a statement.

Liang, who is also Simpang Renggam Member of Parliament, added that, in line with 1Malaysia concept, the government should encourage and promote locally-made movies, especially when the actors, actresses, shooting, production team and funding were all Malaysian regardless of race and religions, although the language used was mixed.

Recently, Malaysian actor Tan Kheng Seong, popular known as Ah Niu, had expressed his disappointment that his latest movie, Ice Kachang Puppy Love, had to pay 20% entertainment tax as it was considered a foreign movie, because it did not use more than 70% Bahasa Malaysia.

Tan lamented that the entertainment tax constituted a big portion in the film’s turn-over.

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

Liang said those who saw the film which was released in Malaysia on April 14 this year, would agree that the movie exhibited the 1Malaysia spirit and content.

Set in Malaysia in the 1980s, this film tells the story of how a shy teenage boy overcomes the challenges in his life. Besides Ah Niu, the movie also starred Malaysians Lee Sinje, Gary Chaw, Fish Leong, Victor Wong and Nicholas Teo. The production scenes were shot in Penang and Perak.

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