THE Film Directors’ Association of Malaysia (FDAM) has been allowed to resume operations following its appeal to the Home Ministry last month.

FDAM acting president Zulkeflie M. Osman said based on the ministry’s letter dated September 15, the group’s appeal against being deregistered was approved, subject to conditions by the power conferred on home minister under section 18 of the Societies Act 1966.

He said FDAM met with the Registrar of Societies (ROS) yesterday for advice about improvements the association needs to implement within 90 days of the date of the letter.

“The meeting we had yesterday with the ROS, attended by myself, FDAM secretary Mohamad Zaini Hassan and treasurer K. Logananthan went well.

“They required a few (improvements), such as to FDAM’s official logo, which will be approved at the annual general meeting at the end of the year,” he said in a statement today.

On June 7, the ROS deregistered FDAM for contravening part of its previous constitution, which the ROS considered weak.

Zulkeflie thanked Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, his deputy Shamsul Anuar Nasarah, and the ministry officers, as well as the Kuala Lumpur ROS for helping FDAM resume operations.

He also thanked the National Film Development Corporation, Malaysian Film Producers Association, Seniman Association of Malaysia, and Malaysian Association of Professional Film Workers for their support in helping restore FDAM’s status as the sole accreditor of film directors in Malaysia.

“We hope our cooperation with ministries, departments, and the private sector, as well as television in connection with filmmaking, will be strengthened after this. We also want to expand and work with public and private institutions of higher learning,” he said. – Bernama, October 25, 2023.