By Wilfred Pilo
KUCHING, Feb 25: Sarawak Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said his ministry would not source for a portion of the RM127 million allocation under the revised Budget 2023 aimed to fuel the creative industry, arts, and culture.
In response to a question about whether Sarawak will apply for a sum of the budget allocated to develop its creative industry, Abdul Karim explained that the budget allocation only goes to the federal ministry.
“It is for industry players who go to the ministry seeking funds. The ministry in Sarawak does not go over and ask for a portion of the budget. It doesn’t work that way; it does not mean they (the federal government) must allocate a certain amount.
“During our meeting with the federal ministers, we will ask them to support the infrastructure connected to the industry concerned in Sarawak.
“But then, it is difficult to get a big portion. So we (our ministry) would rather try to source it (the funding) ourselves,” he said.
Abdul Karim said this to reporters at a press conference after the first town hall meeting session with creative industry players from the Kuching, Samarahan, and Serian divisions today.
He also said he has not looked at the revised Budget 2023 but hoped that consideration for Sabah and Sarawak is given.
“It is up to them (to allocate), but if the minister is from Sarawak, maybe he could help,” he said.
He said that the creative industry is under many government agencies, and one of them is the Tourism, Arts, and Culture Ministry, helmed by fellow Sarawakian Dato Sri Tiong King Sing, who he hoped will keep that in mind.
Also present were the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts, Datuk Snowdan Lawan. and ministry permanent secretary Datu Sherrina Hussaini. — DayakDaily
