All filming requires Finas licence, even personal social media - minister
PARLIAMENT | All filming requires a licence from the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) even for personal social media, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.
Asked how this would affect people who use social media platforms, he said that all content creation is subject to regulations. The rule would affect those using Tik-Tok, Instagram, Youtube and others.
PARLIAMENT | All filming requires a licence from the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) even for personal social media, said Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah.
Asked how this would affect people who use social media platforms, he said that all content creation is subject to regulations. The rule would affect those using Tik-Tok, Instagram, Youtube and others.
"It is mandatory for film producers to apply for a film production licence and filming certification letter, regardless of whether they are mainstream media or personal media that publish their film on social media or traditional channels," he told the Dewan Rakyat today.
"We encourage everyone, big or small, young or old, individuals or organisations to produce any type of film... as long as it follows the existing laws," he added to a follow-up question regarding social media videos.
The Finas Act defines films as recordings on any material, including feature films, short films, short subject films, trailers, documentaries and advertising filmlets.
According to Finas' website, to qualify for a film or video production licence, one must have a registered company (sendirian berhad), with RM50,000 paid-up capital.
Saifuddin (above) was answering a question from Wong Shu Qi (Harapan-Kluang) on whether Finas licences are for social or traditional media.
In a follow-up question, Fahmi Fadzil (Harapan-Lembah Pantai) asked if Youtuber Dustin Pfundheller, who produced a video countering a controversial Al Jazeera news documentary, had a Finas licence.
To this, Saifuddin replied he had left it to the authorities and if there were complaints, they would take action.
Finas licences came into the spotlight after the government decided to probe whether Al Jazeera was licensed to produce documentaries.
This was after the Qatar-based media released a news documentary "Locked Up in Malaysia's Lockdown" which highlighted what it claimed was discriminatory practices against migrants during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This had angered Putrajaya, which claimed the documentary was biased. Police had since questioned journalists involved in the documentary while the Immigration Department is pursuing migrants interviewed in the report.
Previously, Finas chairperson Zakaria Abdul Hamid confirmed that all forms of video recording must seek a licence from his agency because their job was to ensure that the material produced did not incite unrest or cause a public nuisance.
Zakaria stressed that Finas would only enforce the law against companies for now and might only be used on individuals on a case-by-case basis.
Report this comment
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
This action cannot be undone.