Finance Minister YB Lim Guan Eng in his second budget announcement under the Pakatan Harapan Government has once again allocated funding for the development of eSports in the country. In his 2019 Budget the Ministry funneled RM10 million to Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) to grow the industry. This year, the fund had been doubled.
The objective is to use the RM20 million towards creating a conducive, inclusive, and competitive Digital Content Ecosystem which goes beyond gaming and into areas like content, talent, publishing, IP, and competition, all for potential global outlook. With over RM7.6 billion in revenue, a fast growing RM1.3 billion export revenue and over 10,000 jobs, this industry is poised for the next stage of growth and Malaysia is keen to tap into it.
While we still have yet to see any reports on how the MDEC spent its RM10 million this year, we believe the focus should be grassroots. Having organised over 100 roadshows in universities and colleges including eSport tournaments, PC.com has a good insight on our students and their nuances. Our observation has alluded to the fact that just like any other sport, the foundation has to be laid at the school and University level. MDEC could use the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) as its case study and doing the opposite. Talent must be nurtured, identified, and developed at a young stage when interest is high and energy is at peak; FAM failed at the schools in this aspect (there is no league at junior level until today) where potential students who move up to secondary school are groomed further, say in the Junior High League, all under the watchful eye of the FAM. If they continue to show potential, they should then be enlisted in a football academy or head to England or Spain for intensive programs. eSports has to be managed similarly.
MDEC should start a grassroots league and closely monitor the progress with always on the look out for new talents. Programs must be tailored to make the initiative enticing, like scholarships for University, national representation, career paths, and personal growth. That is, if we are serious. Funding should also go into creating a fertile ground for local and international players to come together and co-develop contents for the global gaming consumption.
If we want to send any signal in the region that Malaysia is serious, the RM20 million allocation alone is not enough. Developing world class animation, games, visual effects, or digital content platforms does not happen over night or within a year or two. If we don’t have retention plans or what to do after, the talents will leave and foreign partners will probably lose interest as well. (flashback: Pinewood Studio in Iskandar when Malaysia was keen to become the next Hollywood in SEA). Spending RM20 million organising events, sponsoring teams, buying gaming laptops or opening eSports centres are all low hanging fruits which lack any knock on effect. Putting tax payers money into realising the national ambition in making Malaysia a global draw in eSports and digital creativity is another ball game.
We are very much aware that Malaysia is in no short of talents; our boys and girls are working at some of the top studios in the world. Our home grown products have been recognised regionally with the likes Boboiboy, Upin& Ipin now popular in many South Asian and Southeast Asian countries such as Indonesia, India and Philippines. We have world class Dota teams, game creators working in top studios and there are many yet to be discovered. Lets search them out, support them, and keep them.
