RM2,000 TO HIRE LOCAL ARTISTES : MASIDI

RANAU: Tourism, Culture and Environment Ministry has drafted a policy that sets a minimum fee of RM2,000 for local artistes for a single performance.

Its minister Datuk Masidi Manjun said that the decision was made to protect their interest.

He lamented the fact that the amount of fee often received by local artistes has not done justice to their talents.

“This can’t be…there are veteran artistes who are only paid RM30per performance. If we can pay as much as RM5,000 to hire the service of artistes from the neighbouring country then I don’t see the reason why we can’t pay RM2,000 for the locals,” he said after officiating the final competition of the popular Dusun songs on theVFM charts organised by Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) on Saturday.

The competition, participated by 10 singers, was won by Benn Simon. Other winners include Leonard Sentia (most popular and best performed artiste) and Jo Anna Sue Henly Rampas (best vocal).