#SHOWBIZ: Calls grow to preserve P. Ramlee's masterpieces as national heritage

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian government is being urged to preserve the cultural legacy of the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee by acquiring the copyrights to his films. Batu Pahat MP Onn Abu Bakar made the proposal in the Dewan Rakyat, with Ramlee's 68-year-old son, Sazali, expressing support for the government's involvement. The rights to Ramlee's films currently belong to Shaw Brothers, and Sazali sees repurchasing them as a positive step.

Persatuan Seniman Malaysia (Seniman) highlighted the importance of safeguarding P. Ramlee's work for future generations, but cautioned that simply acquiring the rights is not enough. They stressed the need for effective management and a transparent royalty system to prevent exploitation, particularly on digital platforms. However, a major legal obstacle remains: under current law, P. Ramlee's works are part of the public domain, as the 50-year copyright term has expired.

This means his heirs will not receive royalties without amending the copyright law to extend protection to 70 years. An alternative suggestion put forth by Karyawan president Datuk Freddie Fernandez is to declare Ramlee's films as national heritage and provide free screenings at the P. Ramlee Museum.