logo
Communications Ministry unveils incentives plan to lure international concerts, revive events and tourism industries

Communications Ministry unveils incentives plan to lure international concerts, revive events and tourism industries

Malay Mail14-05-2025
PUTRAJAYA, May 14 — Communications Minister today said it has introduced the Concert and Events in Malaysia Incentive (CEMI) to revitalise the local music and hospitality industries while attracting high-quality international shows to Malaysia.
Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil said the programme will be open for applications from May 15 to July 10 this year, offering financial incentives to event organisers who meet key criteria.
'This initiative is part of our efforts to stimulate the live entertainment industry, while also ensuring that international events contribute meaningfully to the local economy and cultural landscape.
'CEMI will offer financial incentives to organisers who meet the criteria, which include economic impact, increased tourism potential, incorporation of local content, and compliance with the programme's guidelines,' he told reporters during the ministry's weekly press conference here today.
MORE TO COME
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Malaysian animation take the world stage, promoting culture and harmony globally
Malaysian animation take the world stage, promoting culture and harmony globally

Malay Mail

time6 hours ago

  • Malay Mail

Malaysian animation take the world stage, promoting culture and harmony globally

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 18 — The Malaysian animation industry continues to carve its name on the global stage, with local productions not only winning the hearts of domestic audiences but also making significant inroads into international markets with pride and distinction. Popular animated series such as Upin & Ipin, Ejen Ali, BoBoiBoy and Mechamato are now recognised in hundreds of countries, serving as a medium of cultural diplomacy that showcases Malaysia's identity, values and way of life to global audiences. Les' Copaque Production Sdn Bhd founder and managing director Burhanuddin Md Radzi said that from the very beginning, he envisioned Upin & Ipin as a platform to portray the harmony of Malaysian society. 'Our guiding principle in every production is to promote national culture, highlight noble values, and impart lessons that audiences can embrace. At the same time, we incorporate Islamic values subtly, without branding the series as an Islamic product. 'We really bring 'Malaysia' into Upin & Ipin because our everyday lives are unique - we live harmoniously in a multiracial society,' he told Bernama recently. Burhanuddin said the depiction of village life and multicultural harmony in the series has captivated foreign audiences, who find the portrayal of Malaysian society fascinating. 'We can see that foreign audiences are excited about the environments that are highlighted, such as village houses, daily life and everyday activities,' he said. The Ejen Ali animated series has recorded more than 13 billion views on YouTube, underscoring its global reach. Muhammad Usamah added that the strong international reception shows how local animation can serve as a modern instrument of cultural diplomacy, fostering national pride while enhancing Malaysia's visibility on the world stage. 'We are aware of how big a responsibility this is, which is why we are very careful when developing the storyline so that it does not offend any party. What we are trying to highlight is our culture, universal human values and the spirit of patriotism that can be accepted by all viewers. 'This is the form of cultural diplomacy that we want to bring using animation as a bridge to introduce Malaysia positively,' he said Meanwhile, WAU Animation CEO and Director of Ejen Ali The Movie 2, Muhammad Usamah Zaid Yasin, said his team remains committed to producing stories that are both meaningful and relatable to Malaysians. 'Animation is not just about entertainment. It must deliver a message that leaves an impact while reflecting who we are as Malaysians,' he said. He explained that Malaysian cultural elements are naturally embedded into the settings, locations and atmosphere of the storytelling, while the core conflicts are based on universal themes that are easily understood by international audiences. Muhammad Usamah Zaid said Ejen Ali has received an overwhelming response abroad, successfully penetrating markets such as Indonesia and India, and even being showcased at the World Expo in Osaka, Japan. 'This success proves that animation can serve as a medium of cultural diplomacy and instil patriotism, much like how Japan uses anime or Korea promotes K-pop,' he said. He emphasised that the Malay language remains central in every production, with subtitles or dubbing added only to suit foreign markets, ensuring the preservation of Malaysian identity. 'My dream goes beyond Ejen Ali. I want Malaysian animation to continue gaining global recognition as a unique, soulful work that makes the country proud,' he said. — Bernama

2025 TRENDY TAIPEI Officially Kicks Off
2025 TRENDY TAIPEI Officially Kicks Off

Malay Mail

time9 hours ago

  • Malay Mail

2025 TRENDY TAIPEI Officially Kicks Off

The 2025 'TRENDY TAIPEI' will take place from August 25 to September 7, featuring over 150 music performances and 39 professional forums across 14 consecutive days, inviting both residents and visitors to join the celebration. The Concert Economy – activating consumption through music and connecting performance venues across Taipei. Industry Trends – featuring expert forums discussing the trend and the future of the music industry. Urban Actions – engaging cultural landmarks throughout the city. StartSphere Taipei, featuring startups from six countries including Japan, Korea, the US, Thailand, Vietnam and other countries. Taipei Film Academy focuses on "AI and the Future of Film", inviting people in the movie industry in Taiwan and abroad to explore the possibilities of technology and filming. Taipei City Archives: "Taipei Pop Music Landscapes" exhibition explores the memories of city pop music . MoCA Taipei: "NOW, I Want to Go to the Museum Too!" mixing market, creativity, music, and desserts, showcasing the city's fresh, vibrant energy. Taipe Artist Village: "Now Electric Lane Arts Festival" featuring 7 artist teams. Taipei Performing Arts Center: "Shilin Fairyland Party + Silent Disco." Songshan Cultural Park: "Summer SongSong—Taipei Remix," a weekend marketplace of music, creativity, and experience. "MRT Nakashi" program at Xinbeitou branch line featuring traditional moon guitar (yueqin). "TRENDY TAIPEI Sound Experience" at Nangang Station, creating a sonic journey through commuting spaces. TAIPEI, TAIWAN - Media OutReach Newswire - 18 August 2025 -Over 150 music performances in two weeks, 35+ cross-industry music forums—Taipei launches Asia's newest music platform and showcases its soft power.7/31 Taipei City Government held a press conference at Taipei Music Center to announce the grand launch of 2025 TRENDY TAIPEI, starting on August 25. This year's theme, "TRENDY TAIPEI: IT'S NOW", highlights the energy and immediacy of the current music scene. The project is structured around three major acpects—The Concert Economy, Industry Trends, and Urban Actions, spanning six thematic areas such as music, art, audiovisual, technology, gaming and fashion. Starting from August 25 to September 7, the festival features over 150 music performances, 39 professional forums and citywide activities, making it the most chill and trendiest event of the summer. This is a can't-miss experience for music and art enthusiasts.14 Signature Events Announced: From Taipei Arena and Taipei Music Center to Live Houses Across the CityMayor Chiang Wan-an mentioned that Taipei is the core of Taiwan's pop music and creative industries with mature production infrastructure and venue resources. In 2024, the representing venues of the city hosted more than 530 concerts with nearly 2 million attendees. "2025 TRENDY TAIPEI" is an international metropolitan music festival unique to Taipei, aiming to showcase the city's creative energy and charm to the world. This year, the goal is simple: bring music out of the concert halls and into the streets, allowing people to feel the rhythm everywhere—from alleyways and cultural venues to shopping districts and even MRT programming focuses on three areas:Director of The Department of Cultural Affairs Tsai Shih-ping noted that unlike last year's pilot edition, this year focuses more deeply on the Concert Economy driven by music to boost tourism and consumption with big concerts, trying to make music the momentum of industry developing. The newly introduced TRENDY TAIPEI Boom: Taipei Arena Series will feature top artists from Taiwan, Japan, and Korea from September 5–7, with tickets already selling fast online via Kham ticketing. Additionally, Taipei Very Live will take place August 8 to September 7, connecting 22 Live Houses and music restaurants with 50+ diverse performances including rock, jazz, pop. Let the city glow with life from twilight to midnight and create Taipei's nighttime music chairwoman of Taipei Music Center Sandy Huang emphasized that Taipei Music Center is an administrative organization dedicated to promoting pop music and also serves as one of the key venues representing the development of the pop music scene, This year's TAIPEI MUSIC EXPO (TMEX) and JAM JAM ASIA present 70 performances from August 28–31, with tickets now on sale. International collaborations aim to give local audiences fresh musical Industry Trends section allows Taipei to connect with the world and talk to the future by immersive exhibitions and global forums. The TRENDY Fusion Forum will take place at Ambi Space One. It will host renowned guests like Sebastian Masuda (pioneer of Japanese Kawaii culture) and Cha Haley (K-pop industry strategist), who will offer global insights on pop culture and music and bring valuable international perspectives and industry insights to the forum . TMEX, Asia's leading music industry expo, will gather representatives from 10 APAC countries and 60 exhibitors, including major festivals like Busan Rock Festival, Zandari Festa (Seoul), Thailand's Big Mountain Festival, and venues like Zepp and Duo Live House (JP). International delegates this year expanded from 25 to over 100, including top figures like the chairman of Busan Metropolitan City Festival Committee Nam Deok-hyun(transliteration) , The curator of SXSW Sydney Kartini Ludwig, the program director of 988 FM Malaysia Hu Bi-Ai (transliteration) and Senior Program Director of MY FM Chou Wei-Wen (transliteration). New this year is an Industry Matchmaking Day, facilitating real collaborations between artists and highlights include:Urban Actions:Expanding into neighborhoods this year , bringing music closer to everyday life and offer everyone more chances to take part in events and sense the charm of music and culture. Notable activations:For the first time, the event extends to Taipei MRT:Star Bands and the Surprise Trio "Wan-Ping-Ling" Kick Off the FestivalThe press conference opened with rising bands from the Taipei Music Center's Open Lab and JAM JAM ASIA's "Seizer." They passed the torch to this year's Golden Melody-winning band TRASH, representing the link from indie showcases to the headline Taipei Arena series. But the biggest surprise was the debut of "Wan-Ping-Ling", a special one-time band formed by Mayor Chiang Wan-an, Director Tsai Shih-ping, and Chairwoman Sandy Huang. Their band name combines one character from each of their names, symbolizing cross-sector collaboration and Bus, Giant Guitar, and MRT Car—Come Take a Selfie!Special attractions include the TRENDY Double-Decker Bus, running August 30–31 (five trips daily), featuring live performances by the Taipei Jazz Orchestra and Open Up! rising artists, stopping at Taipei 101, Songshan Cultural Park, and Taipei Music Center for JAM JAM must-see: the Giant Electric Guitar installation at City Hall Plaza (until September 7). Take a photo, upload it to the official TRENDY TAIPEI fan page, and enter to win limited-edition TRENDY mid-August, a TRENDY-themed MRT train will also hit the tracks—inviting citizens to experience the pulse of Taipei's music city like never TAIPEI is brought to life through the collaboration of Taipei's Department of Cultural Affairs, Department of Information and Tourism, Department of Economic Development, Department of Information Technology and Taipei Music Center. It is also proudly supported by major sponsors including NVIDIA, Cathay United Bank, Taiwan Mobile, Uni-President Group, Heineken Silver, Eslite, Open Culture Foundation, Hanlai Hotel, Courtyard by Marriott Taipei Downtown, The Place Taipei, MESh+ CITYLINK, and its blend of concerts, performances, forums, exhibitions, and marketplaces, TRENDY TAIPEI welcomes music lovers, creatives, tech enthusiasts, and casual passersby to find inspiration and resonance in the city. Let's walk into the city, listen to the rhythm of now, and witness how creativity redefines the power of the more information, visit the official TRENDY TAIPEI and Taipei Music Center websites and social #2025TRENDYTAIPEI The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

Court orders Caprice to archive Instagram posts on entrepreneur
Court orders Caprice to archive Instagram posts on entrepreneur

Free Malaysia Today

time9 hours ago

  • Free Malaysia Today

Court orders Caprice to archive Instagram posts on entrepreneur

Rapper Caprice is being sued by entrepreneur Asyraf Khalid over Instagram posts that allegedly accused him of abusing his family ties and influence. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The Kuala Lumpur High Court today ordered rapper Caprice to archive 31 allegedly defamatory posts about an entrepreneur from his Instagram account. Lawyer Abdul Hakeem Aiman said Justice Anand Ponnudurai made the ruling after allowing an ex parte ad interim injunction sought by Asyraf Khalid against Caprice, whose real name is Ariz Ramli, 39. 'All publications issued by the defendant (Caprice) relating to or referring to the plaintiff (Asyraf) must be archived starting today until the disposal of the inter parte injunction application, which will be heard on Sept 2,' Bernama quoted Hakeem as saying. He said Caprice has not yet filed a statement of defence. Asyraf, 33, filed the suit on Aug 4, claiming that Caprice had published 31 allegedly defamatory posts against him on his Instagram profile between July 30 and Aug 2. He said the defamatory posts involved a podcast where a personal trainer, Murad Zaidi, appeared. 'I invited Murad so that he could share his experience in running a gym and the challenges he faced,' he said. Asyraf claimed Caprice's posts subjected him to public ridicule, dragged his father, Khalid Mohamad Jiwa (better known as Datuk K), into the dispute and tarnished his family's reputation. Asyraf is seeking an injunction to stop Caprice and his associates from repeating or sharing the posts and their removal from social media within 24 hours of judgment. He is also seeking a public video apology on all of Caprice's platforms, as well as general damages, aggravated damages, costs and other relief deemed appropriate by the court.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store