KUALA LUMPUR: The Media Innovation Fund 2.0 will help strengthen the competitiveness and technological capabilities of local media companies while ensuring industry sustainability.
Malaysian Media Council (MMC) chairman Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan said the fund was timely as media organisations struggled to keep pace with rapid technological advancements, artificial intelligence (AI) adoption, intense competition from digital platforms, and changing news consumption habits.
Nallini supported Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil’s reminder that recipient companies must not terminate employees arbitrarily.
“Amid the advancement of AI and digital technology, the media industry must continue to nurture and protect the talent and workforce that form the backbone of the industry itself.
“For instance, the work of media practitioners is being used by AI systems, yet the journalists who produce the content are not given due credit. Therefore, the human role of journalists remains crucial in delivering credible news,” she said.
Meanwhile, Media Chinese International Limited (MCIL) (Malaysia) Group editor-in-chief Datuk Kuik Cheng Kang said the fund reflected the government’s commitment to helping media organisations chart a new direction while protecting workers’ welfare.
Kuik said mainstream media organisations were undergoing a difficult transition, as digital revenue had yet to generate sufficient returns to cover operating costs.
Substantial expenditure, he said, was required to maintain fully equipped newsrooms, professional editorial teams, and nationwide coverage networks.
“The reality is that without large-scale workforce reductions, it is extremely difficult for a media organisation to remain viable by relying solely on digital revenue. This may sound harsh, but it is the reality that media operators have to face.
“Of course, we do not want job cuts, let alone media practitioners losing their livelihoods as a result of the industry’s transformation. However, if the organisations themselves fail to operate sustainably, how can the welfare of their employees continue to be protected?” he said.
Kuik suggested the government also help media companies build sustainable business models to retain top talent and produce responsible journalism.
“Times may change the way media organisations conduct business and technology may transform news channels, but society’s need for truthful information, professional judgement and the media’s role in providing checks and balances must never be eroded,” he said.
Malaysia Tribune editor-in-chief Sharaimei Shaik Ahmedullah described the fund as an essential lifeline to reinforce digital publishing operations and upskill workers.
She said Malaysia Tribune, which benefited from the fund’s first phase, used the grant to improve the operational efficiency of its news portal and make its digital platform more competitive.
“Overall, the Media Innovation Fund has the potential to help Malaysia Tribune enhance its organisational capabilities in terms of technology, human resources and content innovation, thereby strengthening its position in an increasingly competitive digital media landscape,” she said.
Sharaimei also welcomed the employee retention condition, saying worker welfare must be safeguarded alongside the provision of financial assistance.
Last Friday, Fahmi announced an allocation of RM30 million under the Media Innovation Fund 2.0 to support the local media industry through digitalisation, talent development, and the adoption of emerging technologies such as AI.
The initiative builds on the original Media Innovation Fund announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in conjunction with National Journalists’ Day (Hawana).
The fund covers five areas: training for media personnel; software and technology adaptation; equipment, hardware, and support facilities; content research and development; and subscriptions to news services and media content.
Applications opened yesterday and close on Nov 14 via https://danainovasimedia.komunikasi.gov.my/.