KUALA LUMPUR: Newly-appointed National Film Development Corporation (Finas) chairman Zakaria Abd Hamid is not bothered by the "political appointee" label which detractors have given him.
Instead, the businessman and social activist is determined to do his best for the Malaysian film industry and will work closely with his team which includes prominent filmmakers, such as his deputy chairman Datuk Norman Abdul Halim and Finas board members Datuk Prof. Abdul Razak Mohaideen, Datuk Seri Eizlan Yusof and Lina Tan.
"I've heard a lot of talk that I'm a 'political appointee', but that's not going to discourage me from doing my job. In the past, Finas had also been headed by people with political backgrounds who did their jobs well," he said at a press conference in Kompleks Studio Merdeka, Hulu Klang today.
"It doesn't matter where we come from, what's important is having a good work ethic and doing our best for the industry."
Thanking the Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah for appointing him on May 23, Zakaria who is an urban planning graduate from California State University, the United States said that what mattered most for him as head of Finas was a willingness to listen to criticism and to discuss important issues with key players in the industry.
"What is most important for me is to work with my deputy and the Finas board as a team.
"We will do as our predecessors did, that is always discuss matters and arrive at collective decisions, and always welcome feedback from people in the film industry.
"I see myself as the 'driver' and it is my job to make sure that our 'vehicle' stays on course."
Zakaria, who was accompanied by Norman and Finas' acting chief executive officer Hassan Asbor Hassan Muta'at, thanked former Finas chairman Datuk Hans Isaac, former Finas chief executive officer Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nadzri and former Finas board members for their contributions to the film industry, and promised to continue their policies.
"We will continue their policies, and along the way we will improve on them for the betterment of the industry. They did a good job coming up with Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the industry to meet the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
"However, since some filmmakers and artistes have voiced their dissatisfaction with certain aspects, we will contact them over the next week for feedback and improvements," said Zakaria.
Zakaria also said that Finas would upload a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section to the SOPs on their website, for filmmakers to give their feedback.
"We believe that our filmmakers can make good films in their homes and studios, as many others have done internationally. Good works can come from any place, and limitations can also spur creativity.
"Opening up the space for filmmaking has to be gradual, because we want everybody to be safe," he said.
Zakaria also said that Finas planned to set up a foundation to aid needy artistes, filmmakers and crew members.
"Our foundation will be an effective mechanism to help needy members of the industry who are facing financial and health problems. It will be supported by corporate and public contributions," he said.
"We will also continue our predecessors' fight against film piracy, and come up with a good action plan to do so."
The other Finas board members are Datuk Norhyati Ismail, Mohammad Diah Wahari, Siti Juriani Jalaluddin, Denes Kumar Ragupathy, Dr Rose Patsy Tibok and Ku Muhammad Haris Ku Sulong.
Zakaria, Norman and the board members were appointed by Saifuddin under Act 244 for a two-year term beginning May 23.