Safva backs call for higher RTM procurement allocations

Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Film and Visual Association (Safva) has backed calls by the Television Producers Association of Malaysia (PTVM) urging the Government to increase Radio Televisyen Malaysia’s (RTM) programme procurement allocations and review procurement policies to better develop the local creative industry.

Safva president Chester Pang (pic) said the lack of procurement opportunities affects not only peninsular production houses but also Sabah-based companies struggling to secure projects and sustain operations.

“Safva observed that opportunities to secure projects through RTM programme procurement for Sabah production houses have become increasingly limited since 2024, with the situation in 2026 becoming more alarming,” Pang said, noting that this directly impacts company survival, employment, and the earnings of local creative personnel.

He added that the decline in production opportunities also harms the broader creative economy supply chain, including equipment suppliers, location rentals, transport, accommodation, catering, and supporting small and medium enterprises.

Pang said funding for television content must be viewed as an economic investment that drives business activity and builds local industry capacity, rather than mere expenditure to acquire broadcast material.

“Safva believes a balance of opportunities must be addressed, including ensuring that production houses from Sabah and Sarawak have reasonable access to procurement opportunities to allow Borneo’s talents, stories, languages, culture, and perspectives to be represented in national broadcasting,” he said.

Referring to the Budget 2027 allocation of over RM130 million to support the creative content sector, he urged the Finance Ministry and Communications Ministry to consider raising RTM’s procurement budget and conduct a comprehensive review of existing mechanisms.

Pang said Safva hopes Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim will give due attention to these challenges, reiterating the association’s readiness to engage with the Government and RTM to provide practical input.