JATIKS calls for transparency, fair play in Borneo.TV implementation

Borneo Post

15 hours ago

JATIKS representative Andrew Ambrose (fourth from left) presented the letter of demand to Datuk Hj Mazlan Joe Manan, Special Officer to the Chief Minister at the lobby of the Sabah State Legislative Assembly. Also present were Chester Pang, President of SAFVA and representatives of Sabah creative activists.
KOTA KINABALU (Jukly 7): The Sabah Creative Industry Action Committee (JATIKS) has urged the state government and those behind Borneo.TV to ensure that the new streaming platform genuinely benefits local creative talents instead of sidelining them.
JATIKS said that while it welcomes the launch of Borneo.TV as an effort to promote Sabah's stories globally, the lack of proper industry engagement and clear guidelines has raised valid concerns among Sabah's 20,000 creative practitioners.
'First and foremost, we appreciate the launch of Borneo.TV as an initiative to strengthen Sabah's presence on the global content stage. However, its implementation without comprehensive consultation has created gaps in structure and policy that threaten the sustainability of our creative ecosystem,' said JATIKS.
JATIKS, in its letter of demand to the Chief Minister, pointed out that many Sabahan creative talents from theatre practitioners and buskers to social media influencers, still struggle to earn a living in their field, with about 90% forced to take on extra jobs in unrelated sectors.
'Borneo.TV should be an opportunity to uplift local talent, not just a branding exercise,' JATIKS stressed.
The group highlighted seven core issues they claim have yet to be addressed by Borneo.TV and its appointed manager, IB Media Consultant Work Sdn Bhd. Among the concerns are a lack of transparency in the platform's structure, the absence of clear participation guidelines for local creators, and the failure to explain copyright, royalties and ownership rights.
'There is still no official information about who makes editorial decisions, how appointments are made, or how content creators can participate and be fairly compensated,' JATIKS said.
The committee also criticised Borneo.TV's decision not to use local studios or existing production infrastructure, describing it as a blow to Sabah's technical workforce and creative economy.
'Statements that local studios won't be used ignore the crucial role of our existing facilities and skilled technical teams,' JATIKS noted.
JATIKS further raised concerns about cultural representation, stressing that content involving Sabah's diverse traditions must be handled with respect and proper community consent.
'There is no mechanism to ensure Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) for ethnic communities whose cultures are featured. This opens the door to cultural exploitation,' the committee said.
Among its key demands, JATIKS called for the publication of the agreement between state-owned Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) and IB Media, an independent review of Borneo.TV's claimed benefits, the formation of a cultural panel to safeguard Sabah's heritage, and the creation of a dedicated state agency for the creative industry.
'The state government must be transparent about its actual action plan for strengthening Sabah's creative ecosystem — including developing studios, training facilities, grants and economic opportunities,' JATIKS said, adding that with only months left in the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) 1.0 plan, industry players deserve clarity on what comes next.
The committee also urged for TV Okey — a national channel originally created to amplify Bornean voices — to be revitalised as Sabah's main broadcast platform, with dedicated production centres and funding for local language content.
'Platforms like Borneo.TV can succeed only if they are built on a supportive ecosystem — not just slogans, logos and announcements,' JATIKS said. 'We do not reject Borneo.TV, but we demand it be implemented fairly, transparently, and in a way that truly benefits Sabahans. This is our home, and we must protect it together.'