HULU KELANG, Jan 25 — Members of the creative industry pled today for more funds so that more jobs opportunities can be created.

Close to 200 industry players consisting film producers and directors, theatre performers, singers and crew members attended the economical discourse with music and creative industry players earlier today at the National Film Development Corporation to raise their concerns about the ‘struggling’ industry.

Participants complained that the industry has been lacking government’s attention where allocation for them has been stagnant for the last 20 years.

"We are demoralised due to budget cuts over the years, in the 2018 Budget allocation, there was nothing for us,” said film director Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba.

"We have been asking for an increase in production budgets for more than 20 years but nothing has come of it, we are still paid and given the same amount as two decades ago,” she added.

She said the creative industry contributes only 1 per cent to the country’s economy and the industry players want to do more.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan who was also present said he will assist the local industry to raise funds following the discussion.

"Society must recognise the creative industry has a big role to play in the development of a successful city and country,” he said.

Admitting that the government had overlooked the industry in the past, Abdul Rahman said the government must change their mentality in order for the industry to bloom again.

"The creative industry should come up with more unique and creative ideas to make it easier to allocate funds,” the minister in charge of the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) said.

He added that the EPU plans to prepare a blueprint to address issues in the creative industry.