George Town Festival organiser apologises for Malay 'exclusion'
Published: Jul 16, 2024 2:12 PM
The organiser of the George Town Festival (GTF) 2024 has apologised for upsetting certain quarters with its teaser video promoting the event, which allegedly excluded the Malay community.
It explained that Malay artists had always participated in the event, including eight individuals and groups in this year's programme.
"To avoid misunderstanding, the GTF 2024 team has taken down all broadcast material regarding the event from its website, and social media.
"The fact is, we have tried to make every effort to ensure inclusive, comprehensive and balanced representation of all ethnicities, gender groups and ages in GTF programmes," the secretariat said in a statement today.
The organiser assured that it will continue to promote the event as a festival that fosters the spirit of goodwill for a prosperous Malaysian community.
"We would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the trouble and misunderstanding. We will continue to strive to make GTF 2024 a successful event, with humility."
'Denial of Malay culture'
Earlier, the one-minute 47-second promotion video for GTF 2024, which is taking place between July 9 and 28, received flak for excluding clips of Malay cultural aspects in Penang.
NGO Institut Kesedaran Rakyat chairperson Abdul Rahman Maidin said the video made it seem that Penang was exclusive to the Chinese and Indian communities.
Institut Kesedaran Rakyat chairperson Abdul Rahman Maidin
"The video is against the sensitivities of the Malay community in Penang.
"There's not a single element that portrays (the Malays), as if the community does not exist in Penang," he told Malaysiakini.
Aside from asking for a public apology from the organiser, Rahman also called for a new video that included the Malay culture, to be presented as promotional material.
Penang PAS also slammed the video as seemingly denying the existence of Malay culture in the state.
Its information chief Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan further urged the Penang government to act against the organiser to preserve harmony in the state.
"Is this another agenda planned to portray Penang as being owned by certain races?
"Do the relevant parties want to deny the existence of the original Penang people who settled in Penang before Francis Light's colonisation?" he asked in a statement.
Fawwaz further questioned when the Penang government would change the name George Town to its original name Tanjung Penaga.
"Use a name that mirrors our identity, rather than one left behind by colonisers."
"The video is against the sensitivities of the Malay community in Penang.
Aside from asking for a public apology from the organiser, Rahman also called for a new video that included the Malay culture, to be presented as promotional material.
Penang PAS also slammed the video as seemingly denying the existence of Malay culture in the state.
Its information chief Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan further urged the Penang government to act against the organiser to preserve harmony in the state.
"Is this another agenda planned to portray Penang as being owned by certain races?
"Do the relevant parties want to deny the existence of the original Penang people who settled in Penang before Francis Light's colonisation?" he asked in a statement.
Fawwaz further questioned when the Penang government would change the name George Town to its original name Tanjung Penaga.
"Use a name that mirrors our identity, rather than one left behind by colonisers."
Where the Fuck is Tanjung Penaga ?
ReplyDeleteGeorgetown except in its days, there was no town except the Tanjong and a couple of fishing villages, wakakaka
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