In recent years, Sarawak’s creative industry has grown from a small, specialised field into a thriving sector that includes everything from film and animation to digital media.
What was once confined to the stage or cultural showcases is now expanding into new formats and reaching wider audiences.
And at the core of all these storytelling forms lies an often-overlooked element: the script.
Scriptwriting goes beyond clever dialogue or intense plot twists.
It’s about vision, structure, emotion, and purpose.
For young Sarawakians eager to make their mark, scriptwriting is an exciting – and now more supported – avenue worth exploring.
The Growing Role of Scriptwriters
The creative content industry is thriving across Malaysia.
By the end of 2024, it generated over RM6.3 billion in revenue, supported by a network of more than 300 production studios.
Sarawak is also riding this wave of growth.
The state’s 2025 budget includes RM174 million for tourism, cultural activities, and creative development, with RM86 million earmarked specifically for arts and heritage bodies.
One standout initiative is the Sarawak Youth Creative Industry Fund (SYCIF).
SYCIF has allocated RM9 million to support young people in pursuing careers in music, theatre, and digital media, including scriptwriting, as part of its commitment to nurturing talent in the broader creative industry.
Is Scriptwriting a Viable Career?
Let’s face it – scriptwriting is still often brushed off as just a passion project or a side gig.
But the industry today is proving otherwise.
New freelance scriptwriters can earn anywhere from RM1,500 to RM4,000 per project, depending on factors like script length and the platform.
With experience and strong networks, writers can earn RM10,000 or more per script, especially if their work makes it to major broadcasters or streaming platforms.
For those working full-time in production houses, monthly salaries often range between RM3,000 and RM8,000, based on seniority and role.
Nonetheless, writing scripts isn’t just about the money.
At its core, it’s about impact; telling stories that connect with people, shine a light on culture, and bring new perspectives to life.
In a place like Sarawak, filled with diverse perspectives and rich heritage, the storytelling potential is limitless.
What Does It Take to Be a Scriptwriter?
You don’t need a film degree or a background in literature to start writing scripts.
What matters more is having a feel for storytelling, knowing how to capture natural dialogue, and the willingness to practice and grow.
Many well-known writers got their start by writing short sketches, studying screenplays, watching how films are structured, or taking part in workshops and online courses.
It also helps to get familiar with scriptwriting software like Final Draft, Celtx, or WriterDuet.
But above all, great scriptwriters pay attention.
They pay attention to conversations, relationships, and the subtle ways culture shapes everyday life.
In a culturally rich place like Sarawak, that kind of awareness gives you a powerful edge as a storyteller.
Support for Scriptwriters in Sarawak and Beyond
There’s good news if you’re serious about scriptwriting – real support is out there, and it’s growing.
Sarawak isn’t just building creative spaces; it’s investing in the people who bring those spaces to life.
One example is the RM10 million Facilitation Fund, designed to support creative training, storytelling rooted in culture and heritage, and programmes that help build long-term talent across the state.
At the national level, bodies like FINAS (National Film Development Corporation Malaysia) are doing their part too.
Through the Digital Content Fund (DKD), over 8,000 jobs were supported in 2023, with RM3 million specifically set aside for creators from Sabah and Sarawak.
Creators can apply for up to RM100,000 per project, and there’s now a growing emphasis on scriptwriting, not just production.
The Creative Content Fund (DKK), launched in 2024, brought in even more support, with RM11 million for filmmakers and RM6.5 million for musicians.
This fund now includes new categories that specifically support scriptwriting and short-form content like micro-dramas.
Looking ahead, Sarawak is gearing up to host an international animation and film festival in 2025, offering local creatives the chance to showcase their work to regional and global audiences.
Originality Over Repetition
On 7 July 2025, the forum “Skrip Tak Laku, Siapa Salah?” brought together two prominent figures in Malaysia’s creative industry – Erma Fatima and Dato’ Hans Isaac – to tackle a pressing question: why are local TV dramas struggling?
Their conclusion was clear: we’re recycling the same old formulas – infidelity, jealousy, and family drama.
Erma pointed to the overuse of Korean drama tropes and novel adaptations that don’t always align with our cultures and realities.
According to Erma, scripts based on novel adaptations or heavily influenced by Korean dramas, for example, lack soul and often feel borrowed.
She emphasised that the most impactful scripts are rooted in real-life experience.
They resonate more deeply because they carry the honesty and emotional truth that only personal stories can provide.
Why Your Story Matters
Being from Sarawak means you have access to stories that others simply don’t.
It might be a folktale passed down through generations, a personal journey growing up in Kuching, or the everyday complexities of life in a multicultural classroom.
These stories are personal, and that makes them powerful.
Sharing them through scriptwriting is more than creative work.
It’s about keeping your culture alive, starting real conversations, and showing the world what Sarawak is all about.
Conclusion
The creative landscape is expanding, and Sarawak is becoming a key part of the movement.
With more support, funding, and love for local stories, now’s the perfect time to jump in.
Begin wherever you are.
A single scene, a rough idea, a script inspired by real life.
What matters is that it comes from you, because your story could be the one that speaks to someone else.
References:
- Malaysia’s Digital Creative Industry Thriving with Over 300 Studios, RM6.3 Billion in Revenue
- RM174 Million for Tourism, Creative Industry, and Performing Arts Ministry
- State Budget 2025: RM9 Million Boost for Sarawak’s Youth Creative Industry to Foster Talent in Arts, Sports
- RM10 Million Fund to Boost Creative Industry, Cultural Economy
- FINAS to Increase Focus on Scriptwriting, Marketing to Boost Film Industry said Fahmi
- Digital Ministry to Organise International Animation Film Festival in Sarawak, says Gobind
