Unity with Indonesia during our Merdeka celebration? You must be joking. Indonesia does not even include Malaysia in its celebration of Independence.
Therefore, it is amusing to read Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Ahmad Shabery http://m.malaysiakini.com/news/266677Cheek's idea of having both Malaysian and Indonesian artists perform during the Konsert Harmoni Uniti as part of the Merdeka celebration.
I find this extremely upsetting why we should include Indonesia in our Merdeka events. Wasn't Indonesia at war with Malaya when we became Independent? After 57 years, all this is forgotten?
Why should Indonesian artists be invited to perform in a unity concert? Indonesia is never part of Malaysia, even in 1963. Instead, why artists from East Malaysia are being sidelined, especially when we are talking about a concert to promote unity and harmony within the country?
If the minister is talking about regional peace, why only Indonesia? What about the other countries within Asean? After all, the world looks at ASEAN as a region instead of just two countries.
As a matter of fact, this year is Visit Malaysia Year. We are using the Merdeka celebration to attract tourists to Malaysia. The minister has to bear in mind that we should be promoting Malaysia instead of Indonesia.
Therefore, it is amusing to read Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Ahmad Shabery http://m.malaysiakini.com/news/266677Cheek's idea of having both Malaysian and Indonesian artists perform during the Konsert Harmoni Uniti as part of the Merdeka celebration.
I find this extremely upsetting why we should include Indonesia in our Merdeka events. Wasn't Indonesia at war with Malaya when we became Independent? After 57 years, all this is forgotten?
Why should Indonesian artists be invited to perform in a unity concert? Indonesia is never part of Malaysia, even in 1963. Instead, why artists from East Malaysia are being sidelined, especially when we are talking about a concert to promote unity and harmony within the country?
If the minister is talking about regional peace, why only Indonesia? What about the other countries within Asean? After all, the world looks at ASEAN as a region instead of just two countries.
As a matter of fact, this year is Visit Malaysia Year. We are using the Merdeka celebration to attract tourists to Malaysia. The minister has to bear in mind that we should be promoting Malaysia instead of Indonesia.
Javanese complex - why not local culture?
Likewise, Malacca is coming out with the idea of a Javanese cultural complex. This is a sheer waste of public funds when such a complex should be used to promote a local culture.
If artists from East Malaysia are invited to the concert instead of some foreigners, then there is reason to attract tourists to visit both Sabah and Sarawak unless of course, we are trying to woo more Indonesians to take up citizenship in Malaysia.
I urge the Minister of Tourism, Mohamed Nazri Aziz and all State Exco members in charge of State Tourism to intervene and ensure that our Merdeka celebration is well-focused on the true meaning of the Merdeka celebration.
Or else, the meaning of Merdeka would be totally diluted. Guest artists from Indonesia can be invited to other cultural events that does not carry the unique Malaysian identity. As far as Merdeka celebration is concerned, it is our identity to the world. - MAILBAG
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.