KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications and Multimedia Ministry has been urged to expedite the declaration of standard operating procedures (SOP) to allow the film and television industry to continue production works.
The Film Directors' Association of Malaysia (FDAM) president Dr Ahmad Ibrahim said industry players were eager to start working again but could not do so due to the absence of SOPs.
He said the association had received calls from its members inquiring on rules following the announcement that they were allowed to resume activities after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
Ahmad said although some of the SOPs were announced previously, they were not comprehensive.
"We have to see it (the SOPs) in black and white, or else we don't have clear guidance to resume productions," he said when contacted today.
Ahmad, better known as Mat London, also said the association would hold a forum to discuss on the SOPs upon announcement.
"The move will allow us to see if any of the SOP is too rigid, which may cause difficulties to film production companies. Maybe we can appeal to the ministry while ensuring industry players' compliance with the SOP."
He said while arts practitioners would do their best to ensure full compliance with the SOP there were concerns on several matters.
"We are unsure if the SOPs allow interstate travel, as some of the productions were filming outside Klang Valley before the Movement Control Order (MCO) was first imposed on March 18.
"Will they be allowed to do interstate travel for filming?"
Ahmad said the SOP of not more than 20 people allowed to be on the set of filming had left many in quandary, especially those who were already halfway into filming.
"If they happened to have more than 20 people (including production team and artists), what will happen to the rest?
"Instead, maybe the rule of not more than 20 can be applied to those who are about to start filming," he said.
He said the association also wanted a specific date for the industry to be allowed resuming its activities.
Founded in 1990, FDAM currently has about 1,200 members.
On May 20, Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the filming industry must comply with strict SOPs set by the National Security Council (NSC) and the Health Ministry when they resume activities after Hari Raya Aidilfitri, with no specific date given.
The SOPs includes having film production companies appoint a safety supervisor to ensure all crew and artists' SOP compliance; meetings and talent casting to be held online; the maximum number of people including the production team and artists on the set of filming not more than 20 people at one time; and actors and actresses must not be physically close to each other.
Earlier, on May 19, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah announced that the government had allowed the filming industry to resume activities after Hari Raya Aidilfitri.
He said the approval was given during an NSC meeting.