KUALA LUMPUR: Actor and producer Datuk Hans Isaac has announced that he is no longer the chairman of the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) with effect from last Saturday.
According to news reports today, Hans said that the matter was revealed via a letter addressed to him from the Communications and Multimedia Minister, Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.
The 48-year-old had taken to Instagram yesterday to express his feelings about the position that he had held since April 8 last year.
Part of the lengthy series of entries read: "In the months as the chairman of Finas I have given my best for the industry despite facing the bureaucratic procedures of the government agency.
"I had already brought up the grouses of film and TV practitioners in the industry to the ministry before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
"I had also requested for meet-ups in order to discuss proactive measures but, to this day, I have yet to be given the opportunity to do so," he said.
Hans added that although he was aware of arts practitioners wanting an explanation from Finas about the current challenges, he was bound by directives that prevented him from delivering any statements.
"Nevertheless, I had pursued the matter continuously to try to get a response from the government," he said.
Hans had also met with Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, to highlight the problems of the industry from an economic perspective.
He said that he had presented a proposal for an economic and welfare stimulus fund to be implemented swiftly for the survival of the creative industry.
"To industry members, I'd like to say that I might not be the best person but I have done the best that I can from my side.
"As an arts practitioner with 30 years of experience, my fight for this industry does not end here," he said.
Hans added that his efforts, such as EPF for industry members, welfare funds and others, were all for the betterment of the industry.
It was earlier reported that Saifuddin had announced that businessman and social activist, Zakaria Abd Hamid, was appointed as the new Finas chairman with effect from yesterday.
It was also announced that KRU Foundation president Datuk Norman Abdul Halim, would be deputy chairman of Finas.