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KUALA LUMPUR: Cinemas, greatly affected by Covid-19, will begin to suspend their operations from November due to the conditional motion control order (CMCO) in some states and also due to the lack of new films.
The Malaysian Film Exhibitors Association (MAFE) said in a statement on Friday that it had collectively decided to temporarily suspend operations at all cinemas in Malaysia.
“Starting in November 2020, cinemas will progressively suspend movie screenings and / or concession operations at their locations. However, they will continue to monitor the situation and react accordingly as market conditions improve, ”he said.
MAFE said the closure was due to the recent implementation of CMCO in some Malaysian states, which requires cinemas to remain closed.
He also cited the lack of short-term new movie releases, which are essential to luring viewers back to theaters.
MAFE said the Malaysian film industry has been hit hard by the pandemic and suffered huge revenue losses due to a drop in admissions of up to 90% year-on-year, while having to invest heavily in strict standard operating procedures for Security (SOP) to ensure strict compliance and security for customers while enjoying movies on the big screen.
Malaysia’s film industry is bigger than MAFE. It includes all the actors, the film crew, the promoters, and everyone who participated in making the films possible.
The success of homegrown films such as Munafik, Hantu Kak Limah, Ejen Ali: The Movie and BoBoiBoy The Movie 2 would not have been possible without Malaysian cinemas as a platform.
“While this decision was not easy, it is in response to an increasingly challenging landscape for cinemas, and as an industry we believe it is a necessary step towards the long-term preservation of Malaysian cinemas, so we can continue to our role in contributing to the long-term social, economic and cultural fabric of our nation.
“Closing and reopening cinemas is extremely cumbersome, costly and disruptive not only for theaters, but also for our owners and customers,” said MAFE Vice President Cheah Chun Wai.
“The next few months will be critical for the continuity of the Malaysian film industry. However, the industry remains optimistic that after Covid-19, cinema attendance will rebound, stronger than ever, as going to the cinema will continue to be one of the main entertainment options for Malaysians, ”he said.
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