Its minister, Tan Sri Annuar Musa, said this was in line with the government’s initiative to reinvigorate the creative industry during the country’s transition to endemic phase, given the importance of arts and creative culture in national development.
"Besides mobilising art activists to generate income from creative arts and indirectly contribute to the country’s economy, it also shows the government’s commitment to recognising the creative industry as one of the strategic industries with high impact and given special focus under the 12th Malaysia Plan,” he said in a statement on Friday night.
"As such, the Riuh programme, which previously focused on the Klang Valley area, has been expanded to Ayer Hitam, Johor and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah through a series of the Kembara Riuh Keluarga Malaysia to assist art activists, especially those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. In addition, he said, a total of RM10.93mil has also been channelled into developing the industry, which has helped more than 900 activists and entrepreneurs from various dimensions, including film, creative content, music, performing arts, visual arts, literature and design arts, to generate income.