By Dayangku Hidayatul
KUCHING, Aug 21: Malaysia is looking at new ways to help animation and gaming startups overcome funding hurdles, including possible government financial assistance and incentives to bring their products from the drawing board to wider markets.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said his ministry was discussing the matter with the federal government, including the Ministry of Finance, as Malaysia heads towards the upcoming Budget 2027 session in Parliament.
“We want to look at how the government can provide financial facilities or incentives to help startups, particularly in the animation and gaming sectors, so that we can build our industry,” he told reporters after the opening of the Borneo Animation and Games Festival (BAGFest) 2026 at Pullman Hotel here today.
Gobind said funding was important in helping startups produce and market their products, and that the matter was also being discussed at the State level.
He said several initiatives were already being implemented under the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), while the industry remained part of ongoing discussions.
Gobind said BAGFest presented a ‘golden opportunity’ to open the industry to regional and global markets while positioning Sabah and Sarawak as platforms for developing animation and gaming.
He said the strong response to BAGFest demonstrated its potential to grow into a global event and showcase Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak on the world stage.
Earlier in his speech, Gobind said Malaysia’s digital creative industry had generated more than RM92.5 billion in revenue and RM12.1 billion in exports, while creating over 11,000 high-value jobs and attracting RM85.7 billion in investments.
He said Malaysian animation, games, and digital content had reached audiences worldwide, with local intellectual properties (IPs) such as Upin & Ipin, Ejen Ali, and Mechamato growing beyond the country.
Gobind said Sarawak had an important role to play in the next phase of growth, given its creative community, distinctive stories and cultures, and growing digital ecosystem.
He said the focus should now be on developing more ideas and IPs in Sarawak, growing local companies, and creating more high-value jobs.
Gobind said BAGFest was an example of federal and State collaboration, bringing together creators, studios, publishers, investors, technology companies, and industry leaders.
He said the festival had also created practical opportunities through career fairs, industry workshops, business matching, and pitching sessions, connecting local talent and companies with potential partners and markets.
“Malaysia has a real opportunity in the global digital creative economy. We have talent. We have stories. And we have companies that have demonstrated that they can compete internationally. What we need to do now is create more opportunities for them to grow,” he said. — DayakDaily
