PETALING JAYA: The operations at all cinemas across the country will be temporarily suspended from November, the Malaysian Association of Film Exhibitors (MAFE) said.
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Its vice-president, Cheah Chun Wai, said this is necessary for the cinema business to sustain in the long-term as the industry has seen a 90% revenue loss since the Covid-19 pandemic began.
He said the decision was made following the enforcement of the conditional movement control order (CMCO) in several states, where cinemas are required to close, along with a lack of new movie releases.
“Closing and reopening cinemas is extremely cumbersome, costly and disrupting not only for the cinemas, but also for our landlords and customers.
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“Cinemas in Malaysia have appealed for government assistance and rental support for the distressed industry, as it grapples to survive and recover from this worldwide crisis. If the cinema business fails, it stands to destabilise the entire entertainment ecosystem.”
Cheah said the next few months would be critical for the continuity of the industry, as it is depending on the government, landlords, film studios and moviegoers to pull through the crisis.
However, he said, the industry is optimistic it will recover post-Covid-19, in the belief that the number of moviegoers will rebound as movies remain a top entertainment choice for Malaysians. – FMT