PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Artistes’ Association (Karyawan) has urged top entertainers M Nasir and Sheila Majid to explain why two organisations helmed by them are challenging the government's copyright guidelines.
Karyawan president Freddie Fernandez argued that the guidelines aim to improve transparency in music royalty collection and distribution by collective management organisations.
He said he was disappointed with the Music Authors Copyright Protection (MACP), Public Performance Malaysia, and Recording Performers Malaysia (RPM) for filing the judicial review application.
Nasir chairs MACP while Sheila heads RPM.
"We do not understand why two big names in the music industry do not support these guidelines, given that the majority of music practitioners consider them to be a positive development that benefits artistes, composers and other music practitioners as a whole.
"Karyawan hopes that both of them will come forward to explain why they chose to take the court action," Fernandez said in a statement.
Two days ago, domestic trade and cost of living minister Armizan Mohd Ali said the guidelines issued by the Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation (MyIPO) in January last year have not been enforced following a judicial review filed by the industry groups.