THE development of digital games, comics, animation and interactive media is expected to generate over RM31.9bil for the nation, says Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin.

       He said the creative industry contributed RM29.4bil to the gross domestic product in 2019.

       Speaking in response to a question from Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian) in Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Zahidi said the ministry, through agencies such as MyCreative Ventures and Cendana, had set aside RM11.1mil for the industry.

       These include grants for the purchase of musical instruments and online streaming, micro credit loans, sponsorship of flash mobs and independent musicians.

       Apart from this, Zahidi said the National Film Development Corporation also set aside RM38mil to fund creative content development.

       He noted that the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation had also implemented several programmes to provide youths with the opportunity to get involve in the industry.