Where’s the Art Scene? In Malaysia, Politics is Everything!
Khoo Kay Peng
A friend, an expatriate, who has been living in Kuala Lumpur for the past two years lamented to me that there’s hardly any art scene in Malaysia. She compared her stay in Beijing to Kuala Lumpur. She said you either loathe or love Beijing but at least there’s a sign of progress and cultural development.
For a note, Beijing is fast becoming Asia’s cultural city and a hub for International Chinese music and film production. There’s a growing number of International artistes shifting their base from Taipei or Hong Kong to Beijing.
I told her in Kuala Lumpur, politics is everything. You can find drama, music, sitcom, stand-up comedy, X rated and thriller in Malaysian politics.
Why? Remember the Quran swearing tendency whenever politicians are caught in personal controversies? Malaysians surely believe more in Heaven intervention than facts. How to find out if the Malaysian government had taken any financial aid from World Bank? Go swear using a Quran…
How to confirm if someone had been sodomized? Go swear using a Quran…
Hopefully a convicted killer or rapist would not demand for the same method to prove his innocence. If only God can swear back. However, we trust His quiet wisdom and patience.
Remember the Datuk T sex video scandal? By the way, it does involve Quran swearing too. Sex and politics has caught major headlines for Malaysia worldwide. The gala is coming on the 9th January 2012. No wonder another prestigious event, the Anugerah Industri Muzik, is facing a bleak future and a sagging rating.
Malaysians have cleverly used music to spice up their politics too. Remember the catchy tune, ‘Jom Ubah!”? Or Namewee’s crude and cynical rap songs? Or those famous Malaysian Chinese artistes and sexy ‘getai’ girls performing at various MCA & SUPP political dinners and talks?
