Budget 2025: Introduce tax rebate mechanism to encourage public to appreciate creative arts

KUALA LUMPUR: The government has been urged to introduce a mechanism under Budget 2025 that allows Malaysians to enjoy tax rebates when spending in the creative arts industry. MyCreative Ventures Sdn Bhd Group chief executive officer Zainariah Johari said this would encourage Malaysians to appreciate and spend in the creative industry, thus creating a demand for local art products. “One of the things we are hoping for under Budget 2025 is something to do with the tax rebate. For example, if someone goes to watch a theatre performance at Istana Budaya or buys a piece of art (work), they can get a tax rebate for it. “We want to encourage the younger group, teenagers and the community at large to purchase works produced by the those in creative arts industry, like artists, authors, traditional arts practitioners and so on. This is something I have voiced out before,” he said. He said this as a guest on Bernama TV’s “Apa Khabar Malaysia” programme titled ‘Menjelang Belanjawan 2025: Harapan Industri Kreatif Malaysia’ (Ahead of Budget 2025: Hopes of the Malaysian Creative Industry) today. Zainariah said such an effort is deemed necessary to further invigorate demand for local creative arts to ensure the continuity and sustainability of the...