Sabah urged to ride the concert wave with RM10mil federal boost
SANDAKAN: For years, Sabah's music scene has watched the concert wave break over the peninsula — but a new RM10mil federal incentive may finally send that wave east.
The Concert and Event Incentive Malaysia (CEMI), introduced under Budget 2025 and managed by MyCreative Ventures (MyCV), is offering rebates of up to 30% for organisers of large-scale concerts and music events. The programme aims to boost the presence of East Malaysian organisers in the country's booming entertainment economy.
While the RM10mil CEMI fund is available nationwide, the government is ramping up engagement in Sabah and Sarawak to encourage more participation from there — where concert activity and access to federal funding have traditionally lagged behind.
Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching said Malaysia saw 408 international concerts held in 2024 alone, generating RM553mil for the economy — but most were concentrated in the peninsula.
'Sabah's music has its own unique identity. We want to make sure this incentive benefits organisers here too,' she said after officiating the Kembara Ask Me Anything – Industrial Development Programme in Sandakan on Monday (June 16).
Under CEMI, concerts featuring international artists with venue capacities of over 15,000 may qualify for rebates of up to RM1.5mil, provided at least 20% of eligible spending is local and 30% of the team — including crew, performers, or production staff — are Malaysians. Events that hit 60% ticket sales 30 days before the show and involve local artists are eligible for an additional RM100,000 bonus.
Meanwhile, events featuring local artists that spend at least 70% of total expenses in Malaysia can receive rebates capped at RM1mil. These organisers may also qualify for a RM100,000 bonus if they hit 60% advance ticket sales and 20% of final sales are from international buyers.
Teo stressed that rebates are only claimable after events to prevent misuse of public funds.
'We've received 37 applications so far, but we want more from Sabah and Sarawak. Many people don't know about this yet, and we're doing this roadshow to raise awareness,' she said. The application deadline is July 10.
Teo also presented a symbolic cheque worth RM80,000 to the Sandakan Creative Arts and Local Musicians Association, one of the 2025 recipients under the Dana Kandungan Kreatif (DKK) music performance grant. The funding will go towards the Sandakan Natural City Loud Festival, set to take place in July.
'This is proof the money is reaching local organisers,' she said. 'We want to see more beneficiaries from Sabah and Sarawak.'
The DKK programme, restructured in 2023 from the former Dana Kandungan Digital, has a total allocation of RM6.3mil for 2025. It supports music performance grants, as well as international and domestic marketing and promotional activities.
Teo said the initiative has helped create over 9,000 job opportunities since its revamp in 2022, and encouraged more East Malaysians to apply through MyCV's official portal.
The Sandakan event marked the first stop in MyCV's 2025 Kembara AMA Sabah-Sarawak series, which aims to engage directly with the creative community and expand access to federal opportunities. The team will head to Kota Kinabalu next on June 18–19, followed by Kuching on June 21.
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