The Making of Super Heroes ala Malaysian Style
In Malaysia, actions by certain quarters have transformed ordinary citizens into superheroes while there seems to be inertia when dealing with super villains of the vilest sort.
Many of us are familiar with this line: Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No….it’s Superman. What makes a superhero? A superhero is a type of stock character possessing “extraordinary or superhuman powers” and dedicated to protecting the public or fighting for the good of society at large.
Normally, superheroes use their powers to police day-to-day crime while also combating threats against humanity by super villains, criminals of “unprecedented powers” in the same way as superheroes.
One of these super villains is often the superhero’s arch enemy, although sometimes the superhero has a rogue’s gallery of arch enemies. Superheroes sometimes will combat irregular threats that also match their powers, such as aliens, magical entities, godlike or demonlike creatures.
Well, in Malaysia, actions by certain quarters have transformed ordinary citizens into superheroes while there seems to be inertia when dealing with super villains of the vilest sort.
And what on earth am I talking about?
Well, think about Namewee and Zunar. Here are some questions which I hope some of you might answer via the comments page.
1. Do the actions taken to haul in Namewee for questioning and to arrest Zunar demonstrate that freedom of expression exists in Malaysia?
Please read Malaysiakini’s report HERE where Hazlan Zakaria reported that in a show of solidarity, a group of civil rights activists and NGOs fighting for media independence and freedom of expression, showed their support for political cartoonist Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque at a press conference in Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) today.
If you have time, please read the AFP report in Malaysiakini HERE on the Namewee case. The report said that the government has ordered a probe into the case but no action has been taken against the headmistress who made that remark yet, angering Malaysia’s minorities, who complain their rights are being eroded as the country becomes increasingly ‘Islamised’.
Despite the popularity of his cause, Wee has received mixed reviews from commentators who object to the abusive language and boastful comments alluding to the Chinese community’s economic success. At the same time, one cannot help but to acknowledge despite that vulgar element, Namewee has connected with the youth and made them more politically conscious!
