Communications Ministry submits 2027 Budget wishlist to grow creative sector

KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications Ministry has submitted its wishlist for the 2027 Budget, focusing on growing Malaysia's creative economy.

Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said the ministry was looking beyond ongoing programmes, with greater emphasis being placed on the film, animation, music, arts and culture industries.

​"For our ministry, apart from ongoing programs under Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), our departments are exploring a new dimension, namely the 'orange economy' or creative economy.

"There are several key matters we have put forward on behalf of the ministry, and we hope they will receive due consideration from the Finance Ministry," he told reporters after launching the 13th Malaysia Plan Public Discourse Conference: Direction and Challenges.

In April, Fahmi said the government would establish the Orange Economy Council to tap the creative industry's potential and strengthen national economic growth amid the global energy crisis.

The council, also known as the Creative Economy Council, will be chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, with the Communications Ministry serving as its secretariat.

On the ministry's expectations, Fahmi said cabinet ministers were not given any indication of whether their respective requests would be approved.

"I don't know yet. Usually, cabinet members only find out at the exact moment the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) delivers his speech.

"We are not given any inkling of what has been approved or what we requested," he said.

The 2027 Budget is scheduled to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat on Oct 9, with the government expected to outline its spending priorities and measures for the coming year.