KUCHING: Music Rights Sarawak Berhad (MRSB) now has the right to manage the welfare of local ethnic artistes. It also may collect royalties for distribution to them.
According to the Federal Domestic Trade, and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi, the royalties are given specifically to owners and creators of music works, sound recordings, and performances by Sarawak ethnic performers.
“Before Sarawak was given the licence to manage these, all the local ethnic performers were put under licensing bodies that managed the welfare of all music activists throughout Malaysia,” he said.
Nanta added that the existing licensing bodies that covered the music category were Music Authors Copyright Protection Berhad (MACP), Public Performance Berhad (PPM), and Recording Performers Berhad (RPM), while MPLC Sdn Bhd covered the film category and Malaysia Reprographic Rights Centre Malaysia Berhad (MARC) covered the literary category.
“With the request made by both Sabah and Sarawak, our ministry gave them the opportunity to hold the licence to manage the matter for their local ethnic performers.
“I am confident that the expansion of MRSB’s functions can help intensify the creative industry in Sarawak, especially the management of the economic rights of the arts activists, to ensure their survival through the payments of royalties,” he said.
He said this when officiating the MRSB Licensing Body Declaration Certificate Presentation Ceremony at Hilton Hotel on Saturday (Feb 26).
Along the line, Nanta further expressed his anticipation to see the efforts done by MRSB for Sarawakian music activists.
“With accountable management and good supervision as enshrined in the policy, we hope the license given will be able to help more industry players here to continue to thrive in the future,” he added.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Datuk Snowdan Lawan stated that his ministry is ready to help and cooperate with MRSB.
“The license given to the MRSB is very timely because we now will have our own body that will manage the welfare and royalties of our local ethnic performers,” he commended.
For he record, aside from Music Right Sabah Berhad (MRS), MRSB is one of the latest licensing bodies declared by the Copyright Controller under the Malaysian Intellectual Property Corporation (MyIPO) and is authorised to collect music royalties and represent the exclusive members of the owners and creators of music works, sound recordings and performances by Sarawak ethnic performers.
Separately, commenting on KPDNHEP’s action when the border reopens, he stated that his ministry has always closely monitored and addressed the problem on the issues occurring there, especially matters related to the smuggling of subsidised goods and other related items.
