This issue had been brought up many times in the entertainment section by some major Malay dailies. They [the editors] often questioned whether Bahasa Malaysia movies are Malay movies or Malaysian movies. They have such view because normally, Bahasa Malaysia movies' actors and actresses are Malays.
If Bahasa Malaysia movies are the only Malaysian movies, how about Chinese language movies that are made in Malaysia. There are quite a number of made-in-Malaysia Chinese movies which are produced, acted, directed and filmed in Malaysia. For me, it is quite discriminatory to classified only Bahasa Malaysia movies as Malaysian movies.
It is true that according to Article 152 of the Federal Constitution, Malay language is the sole official language in Malaysia. But we have to bear in mind that the use of other languages are permitted and recognized under the Article. After all, Malaysia is and will always be a multi-ethnic country. So, why does non-Bahasa Malaysia movies are not classified as Malaysian movies?
Maybe it is caused by the mind set of Malaysians themselves, I mean, ourselves ;p .. We often describe ourselves along race based communal lines [especailly in the Peninsula]. Malays, Chinese, Indians.... I think Malaysians will have true Malaysian movies when we stop being racist / race-biased.. Unless and until we truly become one Bangsa Malaysia [as stated in the first paragraph of Vision 2020], Malaysians will never have true Malaysian movies...
Friday, 25 July 2008
File 23 : Malaysian movies...
Posted by kairulizwan at 10:50 pm
Labels: bangsa malaysia, entertainment, malaysia, movies, vision 2020
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3 comments:
Mainstream industry people will probably regard the studio-produced Malay films (as in, to the point where even non-Malay characters speak Malay only) as proper Malaysian films whereas other 'indie films' don't count ... or should just be categorised 'indie Malaysian films'.
At the same time, some indie people would say there is no such thing as a 'Malaysian' film. Just films plain and simple, good or bad, or perhaps more accurately 'you like, or you don't like'.
Personally, I don't know of too many Malaysian-made Chinese and Indian movies - there are, but not in enough quantities. 'Truly Malaysian' movies, as some call movies with a multitude of characters from different ethnicities which includes multiple languages - the ideal that 'we' all aspire for, the 'we' being a limited one - are even fewer.
I suspect though, the masses just don't care, and would be genuinely surprised to hear anyone, official or not, say that Sepet or The 3rd Generation are not Malaysian movies.
In other words ...
... what is this article for and who is it directed to?
Personally, I feel that all languages that are used in Malaysia should be considered as Bahasa Malaysia.
They should have changed this.
mcgarmott:
This article is my personal opinion as a young Malaysian to voice out some issues that I had in my mind. It is directed to all Malaysians, to open up our mind and think out of the box. This is because, there may be some issues that we regard as just a tiny little issue but then, that tiny issue could be a big issue if it is not tackled properly by all young minds in Malaysia.
As for the movie, for me, I do think that there are some who cares about the issue. The issue of Malay and Malaysian movies had been voiced out quite a number of times by certain quarters. It may be true that indie movies are called as, well, indie movies. But there are some who said that indie movies are Malaysian movies. There are certain bases for that opinion but I believed that it is probably because of the fact that Indie movies often tell the audience about the Malaysian society. Where as, the so called Malaysian movies which are actually Malay movies often tell the audience about love or tiny little issue that is sometimes stereotype.
As for me, I believe that there will come a time when all movies in Malaysia can proudly tagged their product as a Malaysian movie…
anonymous:
I don't actually agree with your opinion. Because once all languages are considered as Bahasa Malaysia, then there will be confusion among younger generation. They might ask why the languages are different but the name are the same...
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