KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Television Producers' Association (PTVM) is pleading with Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil to consider helping producers who are currently faced with a tough situation due to a lack of jobs from RTM.
Apparently only 44 out of 3,000 production companies have successfully received offers from the national broadcast station this year.
Adding to the quandary was the lack of any announcement by the minister on an additional budget to aid TV producers during a recent Townhall Session with Fahmi Fadzil event which was attended by close to 500 arts practitioners.
"This Townhall Session was important and that's why many attended to find out what RTM's new Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) were since the offers had decreased this year.
"We were hoping that the minister would announce an additional budget or would offer aid to producers who are currently in bad shape.
"Perhaps even unveil a new roadmap for RTM and request additional aid from the government in order for RTM to add more programmes which would create more job opportunities.
"But we were met with disappointment," said PTVM president, Datuk Jurey Latiff Rosli in a news report today.
He added that Fahmi had only requested for allocations to strengthen the 5G network during a press conference following the Townhall Session.
"No one is looking out for the producers so who else can we complain to? We want to live and be able to provide for our families but if only 44 companies have offers, how are the others going to make it?
"PTVM has been informed that another pitching session will be held in December. But what about the other thousands of companies if only close to 50 works are chosen?" he said.
Jurey further lamented that during the Covid-19 pandemic the government had injected substantial funds to stimulate the industry but it has since stopped.
"Prior to this, our situation was not as dire as today. What we had expressed or proposed then would have garnered the attention of the government.
"Producers now are in trouble as certain products are completed and approved for airing but there's no inkling of a screening date and payment is late with some up to a year later," he said.
Jurey explained that PTVM has proposed for RTM to carry out a payment system similar to private TV stations, whereby a downpayment of 30 per cent is given out to the producer with the remaining paid once the product is completed.
"RTM has implemented the SOP without having any discussions with industry practitioners. They just made the announcement.
"There are producers who are forced to fork out a lot of money to create the programmes.
"PTVM had recommended RTM to provide a payment method mirroring private TV stations but it had fallen on deaf ears," he said.