JAKARTA: Malaysia has called for intellectual property to be recognised as a bankable asset and clear frameworks to govern the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI), as part of three proposals to strengthen the global creative economy.
Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil outlined the proposals in his address at the ministerial meeting of the Fifth World Conference on Creative Economy (WCCE) here.
"We recommend three things to this meeting. First, that intellectual property be recognised as a bankable asset.
"Second, that creative skills be developed alongside digital skills.
"Third, that clear frameworks govern the responsible use of AI in creative work, keeping the human creator at the centre," he said.
Fahmi also identified three areas for closer international cooperation, beginning with co-productions that could help grow the creative economy by attracting investment, developing local talent and bringing creative content to wider international markets.
The second area, he said, involved the mobility and exchange of creative talent through joint training, residencies and exchanges, allowing professionals to learn from one another, build networks and develop ideas for lasting collaborations.
"Third, sharing data and measurement methods so that the creative economy is properly counted in our national accounts.
"Clearer understanding of its contribution to jobs, income and growth will help us design better policies and make a stronger case for investment in the sector," he said.
Fahmi also highlighted common challenges facing creative industries, noting that creators often provided production services while ownership of intellectual property and its commercial value remained elsewhere.
"Creative enterprises, whose main assets are intangible, still struggle to access financing, and generative AI raises pressing questions on copyright, fair remuneration and cultural authenticity," he said.
Sharing Malaysia's approach, Fahmi said the country was moving up the value chain from producing content to owning and commercialising intellectual property.
He said the Communications Ministry and its agencies had introduced co-production funds and matching grants, strengthened talent development, and were developing a National Film Policy and a National Music Policy.
Under the Thirteenth Malaysia Plan (2026–2030), the orange economy had been identified as a new source of growth. Malaysia's cultural and creative industries contributed 6.8 per cent to gross domestic product in 2024, generated RM63 billion in exports and supported more than 760,000 jobs.
"To match this ambition with strong governance, Malaysia has just established the Orange Economy Council, the Majlis Ekonomi Jingga, at the highest level of Government. It will be the apex body steering our creative ecosystem, from film and music to animation, games and esports.
"It will also advise the government on planning, implementing and monitoring the sector, with industry at the table and my Ministry serving in its secretariat," he said.
Fahmi also commended Indonesia for initiating the WCCE in Bali in 2018 and sustaining the platform for governments, international organisations and creators to shape the future of the creative economy.
He said Malaysia, participating in the ministerial meeting for the first time, welcomed the initiative and looked forward to contributing actively to the WCCE process.
"Natural resources will one day run out. Creativity never will. As a new participant in this process, Malaysia looks forward to learning from the experiences shared at this meeting and exploring opportunities for cooperation with Indonesia and other participating countries," he said.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd