KUALA LUMPUR: The government's RM100 million allocation to more than 8,000 people in the creative industry has been hailed by artiste associations as "just what they wanted".
While they felt that the allocation ought to have been made earlier, it was always "better late than never".
Some of them, however, felt that the figure of 8,000 people appeared too small, as there were hundreds of thousands of people employed in the industry, who were struggling in the on-going lockdown.
They urged the government to elaborate on how financial aid would reach the needy.
Yayasan Kebajikan Artis Tanah Air (YKAT) chairman Datuk DJ Dave said: "It is a timely help especially when so many artistes are suffering as a result of the pandemic and Movement Control Order (MCO).
"Many have been jobless and incomeless, but we can now survive in such hard times, and thank the Prime Minister and the government for their timely help so that we can move forward with our lives."
Persatuan Karyawan Malaysia (Karyawan) president Datuk Freddie Fernandez said: "This is most welcome at this difficult time. After more than a year of being unemployed, many musicians, singers, actors and behind-the-scenes workers like directors, audio suppliers, film and television company operators as well as club owners, event managers and promoters are struggling to survive."
Fernandez hoped that the government would refer to the key non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in the entertainment industry to ensure that funds were distributed on a needs basis and reached people who were truly disenfranchised by the lockdown.
"One of the main problems in our industry is the proliferation of associations, many of which are of questionable repute. The government should be able to distinguish between the genuine ones and those that do not manage funds in a professional and equitable manner.
"Be that as it may, we thank the government for this kindly and timely gesture and hope it provides a lifeline to all people in the industry who are struggling to survive after being jobless for so long."
Fernandez also hoped that the newly-formed National Music Industry Council comprising 15 key associations from the music industry would be approached and their feedback taken into consideration as to how the funds could be disbursed.
Persatuan Seniman Malaysia (Seniman) president Zed Zaidi said: "I'm very happy that the government has answered our calls to lighten the burdens of artistes and others in the entertainment industry.
"The moratorium on loans will go a long way in helping us survive, as it covers a period of six months."
Zed added that however, the government should also make sure that owners of houses give a moratorium to artistes who rent their premises, and they make up the majority of artistes.
"Artistes need a rent moratorium from their landlords so that they can meet all their basic expenditures in trying times as this."
Malaysian Film Producers' Association (PFM) president Pansha Nalliah said that while Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin's announcement sounded great for the industry, they were more concerned about how the funds would be disbursed.
"There are more than 8,000 people in the creative industry, and I hope the government and all associations of the industry get together and come up with a sound mechanism to ensure that all individuals who are in dire need of financial assistance get their burdens alleviated," he said.
Muhyiddin, in announcing the Pakej Perlindungan Rakyat dan Pemulihan Ekonomi (Pemulih) assistance programme today, said that the allocation would include incentives for the production of works and digital content, career opportunities, upskilling programmes, Social Security Organisation (Socso) contributions, and the procurement of products for the purpose of television, radio and music productions.