With MDEC backing, Sarawak aims to use BAGFest 2026 as springboard to turn Borneo’s creativity into global IP
- ID
- 16773
- Status
- summarized
- Published
- 22 Aug 2026, 5:42 PM
- Fetched
- 22 Aug 2026, 5:49 PM
- Provider
- Digital News Asia
- Category
- malaysia-tech
- Original URL
- https://www.digitalnewsasia.com/digital-economy/mdec-backing-sarawak-aims-use-bagfest-2026-springboard-turn-borneos-creativity
- Source URL
- https://www.digitalnewsasia.com/rss.xml
Summary
- Score
- 3.5
- Created
- 22 Aug 2026, 5:49 PM
- Tags
- Audience
- saas_foundersdevelopers
What happened
BAGFest 2026, held in Kuching from Aug 19-22, positioned Sarawak as a hub for turning Borneo's creative talent into exportable IP, with MDEC backing and support from Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo and Sarawak Premier Abang Johari. Malaysia's digital creative sector has generated RM92.5 billion in revenue and RM12.1 billion in exports since 2001, with 11,000+ high-value jobs, but leaders stressed the next phase requires stronger companies and greater IP ownership rather than just commission work.
Why it matters
Malaysian founders in animation, gaming, and digital content should note the explicit policy push toward IP ownership over project-based work, and that MDEC is actively looking at Sarawak/Borneo as an untapped market — but the article names no specific grants, programs, or funding amounts, so there is nothing concrete to apply for yet.
Discussion angle
The gap between Malaysia's RM92.5B creative sector revenue and the lack of named funding programs or incentives at this event — is the IP-ownership pivot real policy or just rhetoric, and what would Malaysian indie game/animation studios actually need to make that shift?