TEACHERS, LECTURERS WORRIED OVER FINAS LICENCE ISSUE

KUALA LUMPUR: Many teachers and lecturers are troubled by reports saying all videos published on social media platforms require a licence by the National Film Development Corporation (Finas), former education minister Dr Maszlee Malik claimed.

The Simpang Renggam Member of Parliament said he received many messages from teachers and lecturers nationwide since morning expressing their concern to him over the news.

"These educators have been using social media platforms to upload videos and doing live videos as part of their online teaching initiative during the Movement Control Order (MCO) since March.

"Many teachers and lecturers have been texting me and asked me if this is true because they are worried about the implications," he told a press conference at the Parliament here today.

Maszlee called on Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah to provide an explanation over the matter.

"If we make a blanket policy like this, it can slow down creative industry among the youths and I see this as a regressive approach because our students still need online teaching materials since not all of them are able to return to their respective universities," he said.

In the morning, Saifuddin had told the House that all film producers must apply for a Film Production Licence and a Filming Authentication Certificate (SPP) regardless if the production is meant for traditional or social media platforms.

He said the licence and SPP could be obtained through Finas.

He cited Section 22 (1) of the Finas Act 1981 (Act 244) which stated that "no person shall engage in any activities of production, distribution or exhibition of films or any combination of those activities as specified in subsection 21(1) unless there is in force a licence authorising him to do the same."

"Therefore, it is compulsory for film producers to apply for the Film Production Licence and the SPP, whether they are from mainstream media agencies or personal media producing a film on social media platforms or through traditional channels.

"Film is interpreted under Section 2 of the Finas Act 1981 as 'films' (which) includes feature films, short films, short subject films, trailers, documentaries, advertising filmlets and any recording on material of any kind, including video tapes and video discs, of moving images, accompanied or unaccompanied by sound, for viewing by the public or any class of the public," he said.

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