Credit : Fahmi Fadzil's X
PUTRAJAYA, October 30, 2026 — The government has allocated RM30 million under Dana Inovasi Media 2.0 (Media Innovation Fund 2.0) to continue strengthening the local media industry, including in digitalisation, talent development and the adoption of new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said today.
Fahmi, who is also the MADANI Government spokesman, made the announcement at his press conference after the weekly Cabinet meeting. He later shared on X a Bernama post on the announcement, which said the RM30 million would go towards empowering the local media industry in areas including digitalisation, talent development and AI. According to Bernama, Fahmi said the initiative, announced in June, is a continuation of the Dana Inovasi Media first announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in conjunction with the National Journalists’ Day (HAWANA) 2025 celebrations.
Continued commitment to the media
Fahmi said the implementation of Dana Inovasi Media 2.0 reflects the government’s continued commitment to ensuring the country’s media industry stays resilient and relevant to current needs. “This initiative shows the government’s continued commitment to ensuring the media industry continues to be empowered, especially in the aspects of innovation, digitalisation, talent development and the adoption of new technologies, including artificial intelligence,” he said, as quoted by Bernama.
Commenting on the earlier round of the fund, Fahmi said 72 media companies had received funding from the RM30 million allocation announced last year. He said the funding supported a range of media industry transformation initiatives, including training, the strengthening of operations and the exploration of new approaches to producing and delivering content.
When Anwar announced the first allocation at HAWANA 2025 in June last year, as reported by LNA at the time, he said the RM30 million was meant to drive digital transformation and enhance the capabilities of journalists and media organisations, supporting training, technology exposure and infrastructure development so that media practitioners could tackle challenges such as information overload, defamation and the manipulation of perception online.
A new fifth scope
Fahmi said Dana Inovasi Media 2.0 keeps the four existing funding scopes and introduces one new scope, bringing the total to five, to meet the needs of local media organisations and support their development. The new scope covers subscriptions to news services and media content, while the four existing scopes cover training for media workers; software and technology adaptation; equipment, hardware and support facilities; and research and content development.
How to apply
Applications for the fund can be made from November 1 to 14, 2026, through the website danainovasimedia.komunikasi.gov.my. The fund was set up to help local media organisations strengthen their digital transformation through training, the use of new technology and software, equipment upgrades and content development.
According to Bernama, the fund is open to local media organisations or companies that have been registered with the Information Department of Malaysia (JAPEN) for at least six months, have an active publishing medium such as a portal or newspaper, and hold a valid Media Accreditation Card (Kad Perakuan Media, KPM) on the date applications open. That gives eligible organisations a two-week window, closing on November 14, to submit their applications for the second round of the fund.
Source : Fahmi Fadzil’s X, with details reported by Bernama.
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