By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, May 6: Entertainment artists who have their albums produced are advised to register themselves with Music Rights Sarawak Berhad (MRSB) says Deputy Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan.
He also encouraged MRSB to support Iban singer Penghulu Andrewson Ngalai Asom in pursuing his case after the artiste said the uploading and re-recording of his popular song ‘Biar Bekikis Bulu Betis’ was done without his permission.
“This is to enable the body (MRSB) to manage and distribute and equitable royalty to the artists,” said Snowdan in a statement today while also advising local entertainment artists to register with MRSB to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
Entertainment artists he referred to included songwriters, composers, and singers.
His ministry acknowledges Ngalai’s predicament, said Snowdan, and the ministry will call the relevant parties such as MRSB, Malaysian Intellectual Property Organisation (MyIPO), and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to discuss and resolve the issue.
“This (re-recording and reuploading without permission) can happen to other artists as well. Nevertheless, as regulators, we advise the artists to cooperate with MRSB while all parties advocate for their respective rights,” he added.
Snowdan said that as of last year, there are 23 recording companies that supported MRSB, and added that there are non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Armada Anak Sarawak (ARAS), Bidayuh Artist and Musician Association (BAMA) and Sarawak Iban Artist Association (PARISA) with which individual native Sarawak artists can affiliate themselves.
Snowdan reminded local entertainment artistes that a seminar titled ‘Karya Kamek, Hak Kamek’ (Our creation, our rights) was organised in Kuching where it could prove useful for native artists to find out about the formalities required regarding their intellectual works ownership and how to receive payment for their efforts. — DayakDaily
