KUALA LUMPUR: The National Film Development Corporation (Finas) will serve as mediator to help solve the outstanding debt owed by Awesome TV to drama producers.
In a news report yesterday, its chairman Senator Datuk Seri Zurainah Musa said that Finas had come to this decision after its meeting with representatives from the Malaysian Television Producers Association (PTVM) in Hulu Kelang yesterday afternoon.
She also hoped to be able to meet the representatives from the TV station as soon as possible.
"Our meeting was not to find fault with any parties. Instead, as a responsible governing body for this industry, producers are always welcomed to air their problems with Finas, so that we can find solutions together," said Zurainah.
She added that Finas would set up a meeting with Awesome TV to discuss the matter professionally and realistically, and ensure that the problem would be resolved by a certain deadline.
"If possible, we hope the outstanding payment could be settled without any party taking the matter to courts," she explained.
Meanwhile, PTVM deputy president Datuk A. Aida requested that members who are facing the problem to remain patient while Finas helps to solve the problem amicably.
"Some producers are getting impatient, having waited close to a year. Some are already considering taking legal action.
Speaking on behalf of TV producers, Aida hoped that the station would start making the payment as agreed in the contracts.
Also present at the meeting were Zeel Production's producer Fadzil Teh, Kembara Sufi's producer Jaja Ishak, Datuk Ayu Puteh, Datuk Rafiena Ramli and MAFIcomm Resources' Datuk Mahadhir Mahideen.