The sensational always seems to be part of what makes people buy papers, watch talkshows and exchange comments over teh tarik and nasi lemak. Recently, the controversy of a ‘blasphemous’ remark resulted in a Malay comedienne being ‘gummed’ and the ‘offensive’ lyrics of a song “Papa Jahat” being changed to me were prime examples of sensationalism affecting judgement.
Preventing someone from earning a living as chastisement for a silly remark is spiteful, in my opinion. While it was unwise for her to seemingly equate herself with the Prophet’s wife, (after all the only similarity was that of age and younger men – how dare she..), it hardly merits shutting her out of performing in one television station and effectively discouraging others to employ her. Artistes in Malaysia have a notoriously short shelf life except for a select, lucky few. It is cavalier to say’ its only for one year’ when one has a fixed income to someone who doesn’t.
Another example of hypocrisy to me is the unreasonably sensitive reaction to the lyrics of “Papa Jahat” where a child says that to a father who is unfaithful to the mother. Why so defensive? There is a Malay saying ” siapa makan cili, rasalah pedasnya!” (those who eat chillies, will have to accept that chillies are hot, for goodness sake!). There must be many men out there, including the sanctimonious ones who go around censoring lyrics of Malay songs yet remain blissfully ignorant of lyrics of English songs (” My Humps”, “Smack That” and a host of other hip-hop sexist , suggestive and demeaning to women song lyrics), who feel that they must defend their honour of their sex in this way.
This must be the Malaysian way – to penalise artistes who say their piece – not conforming to what is ‘acceptable’ in terms of the facade of Malaysian life and culture. Never mind that there are rich and successful men who discarded their wives to marry women half their age – May and December relationships are only acceptable – even milked for their media value if it’s older male and much younger female – not the other way round please, we’re Malaysian. Intelligent lyrics that remind men to better husbands and responsible father cum role models aren’t acceptable because Malay men in Malaysia are good husbands and great role models for their children. Let us not mention the ever increasing divorce rate among the Malays, recent tragedies involving children whose father was seemingly unfaithful or the many cases pending in Syariah Courts of errant fathers who do not support their children once they divorce or marry another.
As responsible Malaysians, we need to look beyond the obvious and superficial. We have the depth of character and the spiritual power as a nation to tackle the underlying problems that come from applying hypocrisy as policy. We should stop sensationalising the superficial and set our priorities straight. ‘Gum’ the producers of the talkshow, reprimand the over-enthusuastic and insensitive hosts – have responsible programming and proper guidelines and policies for such shows. Proactive not reactive decision-making. Compassion not condemnation, please for we are Malaysians.. We can think for ourselves and not have our opinions set out for us.
