KUALA LUMPUR: The government is ready to consider giving entertainment tax exemption for cinema operators that were affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah said there had been suggestions from cinema operators for entertainment tax to be exempted, but no official memorandum had been sent to the ministry so far.
"I'm aware of this issue for quite some time as it has been discussed (by the industry players) following the Covid-19 pandemic (with cinemas being closed).
"I welcome an official application (by the industry players) on the matter and we are ready to discuss," he said after visiting the Golden Screen Cinemas' (GSC) outlet at the Mid Valley Shopping Centre, here, to see how the standard operating procedures (SOP) are being implemented at the premises since the reopening of cinemas on March 5.
He said although the collection of entertainment tax was under the purview of the respective local councils, the federal government is ready to discuss the matter.
Saifuddin also said the creative industry was not among the main contributors of Covid-19 clusters in the country.
He said a year since Covid-19 hit the country, the Health Ministry and the National Security Council had almost completed their data collection on the pandemic in the country.
"To date, the creative industry was not among the main sectors that had contributed to the clusters. However, we must continue to be cautious and strictly adhere to the SOP."
Saifuddin said certain quarters had questioned the decision to reopen sectors of the entertainment industry, including cinemas, at a time when the country is still battling with Covid-19.
"(But) you have to remember that many people rely on the entertainment industry as their source of income. This is also the case with cinemas; they have to take care of thousands of workers under them."
At the same press conference, Saifuddin called on the public to help revive the film industry by visiting cinemas.
He said cinema operators have placed strict SOP to ensure the safety of cinema-goers, including sanitisation works after every movie.
On his visit today, Saifuddin said he was satisfied with the SOP and their level of compliance by visitors at Mid Valley's GSC outlet.
Meanwhile, GSC chief executive officer Koh Mei Lee said the feedback from cinema-goers since the reopening on March 5 had been encouraging.
"Since we reopened on March 5, we recorded an admission figure of 384,000 people compared to only 150,000 during the first two weeks when we reopened in July last year (after the first round of the Movement Control Order).
"I believe people are more confident to return to the cinemas now, as they are generally very happy with the SOP and therefore feel safe about going to the cinemas."