KUALA LUMPUR: Come New Year, the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) will have Datuk Fauzi Ayob assuming the role of director-general.
This was announced by its chairman, Datuk Mohd Khusairi Abdul Talib, earlier today at the Merdeka Studio Complex in Ampang.
“After discussions with Communications and Multimedia minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak, his secretary general Datuk Seri Dr Sharifah Zarah Syed Ahmad and the ministry's top officials, I am glad to announce Datuk Fauzi as the new director-general beginning Jan 1, 2017,” said Mohd Khusairi.
Fauzi, 56, holds a Mass Communications (Broadcasting) degree from Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM); a Master of Arts in Video and Film from UK's Middlesex University in London; and a certificate in Film and Television Studies from Derby University.
He brings with him a wealth of experience, having served more than 25 years in various government sectors, both in the country and overseas.
Among his previous positions are: assistant TV producer for Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM); Tourism Malaysia deputy director; lecturer at Universiti Malaya’s Media Studies Faculty; and senior manager for America and Europe at the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation (Matrade).
Fauzi also served as Malaysia’s Commercial Commissioner for 11 years in Nairobi, Kenya; Johannesburg, South Africa; Budapest, Hungary; and Los Angeles, the US.
In 2013, Fauzi joined Finas as its marketing division senior director. Two years later, he was promoted as deputy director-general (production & communication), and earlier this year, he assumed the role of deputy director-general (management).
Meanwhile, Mohd Khusairi also announced that Finas' commercial division senior director Azmir Saifudin Mutalib will fill Fauzi's vacant position, effective Jan 1.
Azmir, 42, has a diploma and advanced diploma in Information Technology Studies from Infotech Mara, Kuala Lumpur; and a Master’s degree in Computer Science from Sheffield Hallam University, the UK.
His working experience includes a stint at the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange’s subsidiary company, SCAN Associates Berhad, and also the Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC).
During his 17 years with MDeC, he attended various industrial development programmes. He also led the marketing programme for Projek Animasi Saladin, which saw MDeC’s collaboration with Al-Jazeera Children's Channel in Doha, Qatar.
Mohd Khusairi hopes both men will carry on ensuring the continuity of agendas which had been brought into the corporation by its previous director-general, Datuk Kamil Othman.
“I hope both Fauzi and Azmir will not only carry on the good groundwork set by Kamil, but also improve in assisting local film producers to come out with quality and outstanding films,” said Mohd Khusairi after a cheque presentation of Finas' Feature Films Screening Incentive scheme for the year.
As a token gesture from the government to local filmmakers, Finas has allocated RM6.85 million under the scheme.
Thirty-three movies produced by 23 production companies received a total of RM2.111 million at today's event. A total of RM4.7 million had been given out earlier in May and Aug.