File 23 : Malaysian movies...

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...