KUCHING: Sarawak’s animation and gaming startups could benefit from financial assistance and incentives being considered by the Federal Government to strengthen the creative digital industry.
Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo said the matter had been discussed with relevant parties, including the Ministry of Finance, ahead of the Budget to be tabled in Parliament.
“We want to see how the government can also provide financial facilities or incentives that can help startups, especially in the animation and gaming fields, so that we can build our industry,” he said to reporters after the officiation ceremony of the Borneo Animation and Games Festival (BAGFest) 2026 at Pullman Hotel here.
He said several initiatives were already being implemented under the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC), with the industry also forming part of ongoing discussions.
Gobind said Malaysia should move beyond looking overseas for investment and opportunities by bringing the global market to the country.
“We need to look at how we can bring the world market to a platform in Malaysia. In Malaysia itself, we have the talent and we have to market it to the whole world,” he said.
He said the decision to hold BAGFest in Sarawak followed a discussion with Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg last year to showcase talent and investment opportunities in Borneo and Malaysia.
Gobind described the festival as a “golden opportunity” to open the industry to regional and global opportunities, adding that Sabah and Sarawak could serve as platforms for developing the animation and gaming sectors.
He said the strong turnout at BAGFest showed the event had attracted interest from the local, regional and international industry.
Gobind expressed hope that BAGFest would be held annually, grow bigger and eventually become a global event that would put Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak on the world stage.
“I hope we can see it repeated every year and that it grows bigger and becomes what we call a global event that can put the name of Malaysia and the names of Sabah and Sarawak on the world stage,” he said.
