'Pan Asian' Faces: Zam Does A U-Turn.
Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin said he is not against "Pan Asian" faces appearing in advertisements on Malaysian television networks but these advertisements must adhere to the existing 70-30 percent regulation pertaining to talents and locations.The current regulation stipulates that 70 percent of the talents and locations must be local.
Speaking at a press conference after the launch of Bernama's Dubai Bureau here Wednesday, Zainuddin said the government had not really been firm on this policy introduced some time ago and felt that there was a need to "go back" to it.
"We have good looking Malaysians. We have beautiful Chinese, beautiful Malays and Indians, why not use them? Why must we use someone who has European features to convince our people to buy a product? Why must we think that only products promoted by these faces are superior?" he asked.
Only a handful of advertising talents had Pan Asian faces, he said when commenting on an article which appeared in the Khaleej Times, headlined "Malaysia's Racial Politics Revisited" today.
The article, written by Malaysian political scientist and human rights activist Dr Farish A. Noor, had touched on the guidelines on Pan Asian faces and comments by Zainuddin.
Zainuddin said even if there was a need to get Pan Asian faces, they should be drawn from local talents. He said that every nation had to value its local products and own people.
Asked on Islam Hadhari or Civilisational Islam, he said its non-isolationist stance would enable the religion to adapt to present day needs.
He also said that Islam Hadhari's tolerant approach would allow Malaysia to blend well with the United Arab Emirates, whose open policy had enabled the country to develop by leaps and bounds within a short time.
Islam Hadhari had been introduced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi about three years ago to demonstrate its tolerant attitude towards all in multi-racial and multi-cultural Malaysia.
Zainuddin said Malaysia and the UAE could co-operate and show the world that Muslims and non-Muslims could work together for mutual benefit. Out of the UAE's 4.1 million population, only about 30 percent are nationals whose religion is Islam.
The seven emirates which make up the UAE have a sizeable foreign migrant population, who include Hindus and Christians. (Bernama)
***** Ever the consummate politician, once he noted the very strong reaction locally and now the bad press in the Middle East, no thanks to Farish Noor, our Lord Zam moved as lithely as a traffic cop directing vehicles and executed a perfect u-turn, the one powerful manoeuvre in the armoury of the smart political animal.
But you can be sure that we have not seen the end of this issue. Knowing Zam and his determination, open season has been declared on these so-called 'Pan Asian' looking citizens, and slowly but quietly and without fanfare, they will be eased out.
Image - Source
Labels: Media Matters.
posted by The Malaysian. at 2/15/2007 10:20:00 AM
2 Comments:
Dear The Malaysian,
Firstly, great blog. Only came upon it recently and now make a point of reading it daily.
On the article, this guy is just a laugh. Things just seem ridiculous these days.
What exactly does he mean by "we have malaysian talents....why use pan asians". Dude, I am pan asian (or more correctly put, of mixed parentage) born and bred in Malaysia, like my father and his father before him. Is he saying that I shouldn't consider myself Malaysian but rather I belong somewhere in the gray area located between Europe, Malaysia and Australia. Maybe I should just hand in my passport, claim refugee status as a confused stateless individual with no country of origin.
It just gets really depressing that at end of the day we all just can't view each other at fellow Malaysians, but rather it once again boils down to race. No even to the extent of advertising. And even then, if you can't qualify yourself as being part of one of the 3 main races, then you may not even be considered in the context of a "Malaysian". When are these people going to wake up an really appreciate what being a Malaysian and the Muhibah spirit is all about. Seriously can one expect the country to develop when your people are not even unified, with all seeming to have their own agenda.
I blame the education system. From an early age Malaysian kids are taught that there are 3 generic races in Malaysia, and the characters in school textbooks reflect that - always Ali, Ah Kau and Sami. Other races or 'Pan-asian' faces do not matter.
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