Latest news with #SAFVA
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Borneo Post
RTM to hold pitching session in Sabah, encourages local content participation
Chester receiving his FDAM membership card from Afdlin Shauki (left) KUALA LUMPUR (July 19): Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) will organise a pitching session for content providers in Sabah, to be held in Kota Kinabalu. This assurance was given by RTM Director-General Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman in response to a query by Chester Pang, President of the Sabah Film and Visual Association (SAFVA), during the RTM TV Programme Procurement Town Hall Phase 2 for 2025, held at the Seri Angkasa Auditorium, Angkasapuri, Kuala Lumpur. Applications for participation in the TV Procurement Programme (Private) Phase 2/2025 are now open and will close on 13 August 2025. Further information is available via the e-TVCMS platform. Earlier, Chester who is also the director of the film MANTERA, received his membership card from the President of the Malaysian Directors' Association (FDAM), Dato' Hj Afdlin Shauki. Chester said his involvement with FDAM aims to strengthen the filmmaking network in Sabah by facilitating the sharing of knowledge and experience from national-level directors to boost directing skills in the state. Several collaborative programmes involving SAFVA and FDAM are also planned to be implemented in Sabah in the near future. Also present were Jade Morris, SAFVA Secretary-General, and Exco member Gregory Giting.
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
TV5 offers prime time slot for Sabah-made films
Yoko (centre) with Chester Pang and SAFVA delegation members. KOTA KINABALU (July 19): Enjoy TV5 is offering a dedicated prime time slot for Sabah producers to showcase their films and completed works on the channel. The offer was extended by Datin Yoko Chou, chairperson of TV5 Broadcasting Sdn Bhd, during a courtesy visit by the Sabah Film and Visual Association (SAFVA) led by its President, Chester Pang, at CoPlace 10, Cyberjaya. During the meeting, discussions covered key issues such as benefits for content providers, intellectual property (IP) ownership, and the overall broadcast structure. 'One of the matters still under discussion is the one-year broadcast rights ownership by TV5 and the number of airings permitted per content,' said Chester. 'In principle, we have agreed on an advertising revenue-sharing payment model, but we will first seek feedback from producers before moving forward,' he added. TV5, officially launched on May 5 by Communications Minister Datuk Ahmad Fahmi Mohamed Fadzil, is Malaysia's new multicultural Movie Channel TV5, available for free on Digital Channel 105. The channel is committed to airing high-quality, multilingual productions and aims to bridge local and international creative content. A follow-up meeting is scheduled to take place in Kota Kinabalu before a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) is formalised. Also present during the visit were Jade Morris, SAFVA Secretary-General; Gregory Giting, Exco member; and Nadira Ilana, Head of SAFVA's Culture and Heritage Bureau.
Daily Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Funding ready for Sabah's creative sector
Published on: Thursday, July 17, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 17, 2025 Text Size: Ewon (third left) receiving a memento from Chester while some of the Safva's committee members look on. PENAMPANG: The Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives stands ready to support entrepreneurs involved in developing Sabah's creative industry. Its Minister, Datuk Ewon Benedick, said agencies under his ministry are prepared to provide financing for entrepreneurs in the creative sector. Advertisement He said Sabah has tremendous potential to contribute to both the State and national economy, especially through young entrepreneurs engaged in film, visual arts, and digital content. 'If entrepreneurs in the creative industry have formed cooperatives, we can also channel financing to help expand their cooperative businesses. 'That's why I encourage the Sabah Film and Visual Association (SAFVA) to establish a cooperative, which would make it easier for them to secure financing tailored to cooperative needs,' he said. Ewon was speaking after receiving a courtesy call from the Sabah Film and Visual Association (SAFVA), led by its President Chester Pang, along with Secretary-General Jade Morris and Kota Kinabalu Zone Head Gregory Giting. During the meeting, Ewon was briefed on the various activities carried out by the association, as well as the challenges faced by Sabah's creative industry. These include issues related to financing, training, and market opportunities. 'I also shared information on ministry initiatives that are suitable for entrepreneurship in the creative industry. 'We want to encourage more young people to get involved in this sector through strategic support and access to financing,' he said. SAFVA currently has 158 members, comprising producers, directors, crew, and actors. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
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Daily Express
10-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Express
SAFVA seeks legal clarity, fair deal for Sabah creatives on Borneo.TV
Published on: Thursday, July 10, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 10, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Film and Visual Association (SAFVA) has raised critical legal concerns over operations, despite welcoming the state-backed platform's aim to promote local talent. SAFVA Legal Advisor Yong Yit Jee questioned whether income from Sabah-made content is being fairly channeled back to the state, given that is owned by a Peninsular-based company. 'We want transparency on how revenue is allocated .Sabah's creative output must benefit Sabah,' he said. He also called for clear protection of local artists' intellectual property and royalties. 'There must be explicit terms ensuring Sabah talents receive fair compensation and retain rights over their work.' Yong warned that IB Media Consultant Works Sdn Bhd, which operates must confirm its broadcasting licenses and compliance with the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA). 'Without proper licensing, all parties involved risk legal exposure. The same applies if PDPA compliance is not met,' he stressed. SAFVA further emphasized the need for consent from indigenous communities before featuring cultural content. 'Free, Prior, and Informed Consent is non-negotiable when indigenous identity is involved,' he said. The association is also calling for the public release of the agreement between the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Secretariat and IB Media, urging full transparency. 'We need to see if this deal truly protects local creatives,' Yong said, adding that SAFVA seeks a joint dialogue with SMJ, IB Media, and other stakeholders to address these concerns constructively. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
09-07-2025
- Business
- Borneo Post
SAFVA raises critical legal concerns over Borneo.TV's impact on Sabah's creative industry
Yong Yit Jee KOTA KINABALU (July 9): The Sabah Film and Visual Association (SAFVA) welcomes the Sabah State Government's initiative through to promote local artists and talents but is concerned about legal issues. 'We commend the effort to elevate Sabah's creative industry and provide our community with an international platform for exposure. 'However, we have serious concerns about several potential legal issues that need to be addressed to ensure that operates in a fair, transparent, and legally compliant manner,' said SAFVA legal advisor Yong Yit Jee. ' is owned by IB Media Consultant Works Sdn Bhd, a Peninsular-based company. There is a need for clarity on whether the income generated from Sabah's content is being properly allocated to the state. Any income derived from local productions should contribute to Sabah's tax revenue as it directly pertains to the state's economic growth,' said Yong in a statement on Wednesday. He said there is no clear guarantee on how local Sabah talents' intellectual property will be handled. 'We urge transparency in the contractual agreements between the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Secretariat and IB Media. Specifically, it is vital to ensure that Sabah's artists will receive appropriate royalties for their work and that their intellectual property rights are protected.' Yong added IB Media must confirm that it holds all necessary broadcasting licenses and permits from relevant bodies like the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). Without the proper legal authorizations, the platform could be operating in violation of Malaysian laws, exposing all stakeholders to potential legal liabilities. ' will likely collect personal data from both creators and viewers. We are concerned that the platform may not be fully compliant with the Personal Data Protection Act 2010 (PDPA). Any breach of privacy regulations could result in severe legal consequences for the platform and its stakeholders.' 'We urge the government to ensure that has clear terms of service and content guidelines. This is crucial to limit the platform's liability regarding user-generated content, including defamatory or infringing material. Legal protection mechanisms should be in place to ensure that local content creators are not unfairly exposed to legal risks. With content highlighting Sabah's indigenous cultures, he said it is critical that respects the principle of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC). Failure to consult with indigenous communities before using their cultural elements could lead to legal action, particularly if these communities feel their rights have been violated or their culture exploited without proper consent. 'We strongly advocate for the public disclosure of the agreement between the SMJ and IB Media Consultant Works Sdn Bhd. Transparency in the terms of this partnership is essential to ensure that local artists' rights and interests are clearly protected. This will also allow the public to assess whether the platform is truly serving the local creative community's best interests.' In light of these concerns, SAFVA calls for a constructive dialogue between the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Secretariat, IB Media, SAFVA, JATIKS, and other local talent groups. This dialogue is crucial to address these potential legal issues and ensure that operates in a manner that respects the legal, economic and cultural rights of Sabah's creative community. SAFVA is committed to working with the state government, IB Media, and other stakeholders to ensure that Sabah would have her own legally compliant and sustainable platform that benefits Sabah's creative industry.
