PETALING JAYA: It is essential for Malaysia to develop its creative industries to build more global brands, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said yesterday.

He said this was necessary despite success stories like Petronas, AirAsia, Maxis, Celcom, DiGi and others.

"Roy Disney once remarked that creativity is a funny thing -- difficult to quantify, but obvious when it's missing.

"With the creative industries contributing only 1.6 per cent of our country's GDP (gross domestic product), I think it's time to admit that Disney's 'X' factor is missing here," he said at the Putra Brand Awards ceremony last night.

Najib's speech was read out by his deputy, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said things needed to change fast, with the engagement of the hottest young talents, to slow the brain drain in the country and that the effort of everyone was needed to achieve this.

"The government is investing in new high-growth industries as part of the Economic Transformation Programme and working to forge a bold new path.

"We also need everyone in the industry to aspire to excel, to seize the opportunities the country presents and to make the most of the rich resources available."

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