Minister's remarks on arts scene irk industry players

CORONAVIRUS | Key figures in the performing arts have criticised Tourism, Arts and Culture Minister Nancy Shukri over what they claimed was a lack of understanding of the industry and its players.

This came after Nancy (above), in an interview with Astro Awani's "Consider This" programme, placed more emphasis on travel agencies amid the Covid-19 pandemic and said it was "easy" for those in the arts to adapt to the current situation.

She also gave the example of opportunities provided through an online singing competition on the ministry's website when asked by the interviewer if the arts industry had been left out amid the economic uncertainties.

Theatre actress Jo Kukathas in a Facebook post highlighted excerpts from Nancy's interview where she was directly asked whether the arts have been forgotten in the ministry's perceived emphasis on reviving the tourism industry.

"Short answer: Yes," said Jo, who is also the founder of the Instant Cafe Theatre.

"Although the hosts tried their best to get her (Nancy) to engage in a more substantive, meaningful way, what came across was condescension and a lack of understanding of what the arts are and what the issues people working in that sector are facing.

"It appears that her only experience with the arts is of bands performing at hotels for government functions," said the industry veteran whose career includes staging local English plays and starring in her own one-woman shows.

Jo Kukathas

In the interview with Astro Awani, Nancy denied that the arts sector is being sidelined over tourism, saying instead it would be a "complementing" element.

"No, that's why I said. Arts are complementing. [...] The arts are actually at the front now because they are the fastest to recover in terms of being in the arts industry, a lot of people are very keen in what they are doing.

"They got a lot of responses, just singing alone, singing competition, we even have people from other countries who want to join but we have to tell them to stop because it's only for Malaysians," said Nancy.

Directly asked for the ministry's plans to assist behind the scene workers involved in the arts sector, Nancy insisted that they have been engaged and she believed it was "not really difficult" for them in these times.

"It is easy for them to plan things and we are always responsive towards them.

"My only concern is those who are in the travel agency... those who are the tourist guides, tour operators, we are trying to bring them to look into domestic tourism. Of course, the bands will complement them," she said.

Meanwhile, The Actors Studio group general manager Ian Chow rubbished Nancy's statement that the Covid-19 outbreak and ongoing movement control order (MCO) is a "blessing in disguise" for the arts scene, particularly for local talents that now featured themselves through online platforms.

Chow, who also oversees the management of The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre and Performance Arts Centre of Penang, went on to dismiss Nancy's entire argument about the arts scene, beyond her assertion that there are a lot of keen local talents still ready to perform.

"Most of us are doing what we are doing during this MCO with no monetary return.

"We see it as part of our contribution to help the society to heal, to inject back its soul and to send the message that there is still life despite the hardship," he said.

Meanwhile, studio owner Ashwin Gobinath said Nancy's statement was a reflection of the government's "cluelessness" about the arts and entertainment industry.

The producer and drummer for eight-piece band Nadir noted that Nancy had failed to answer the related questions, and instead confined the arts to "events at hotels".

"If the government really wanted to help, they would implement a more comprehensive reporting system that actually tracks how the industry works and functions rather than devalue the proponents and artists to being competitors," he said in reference to Nancy's remarks on the positive response to online singing competitions.

All forms of mass gatherings have been prohibited under the MCO and Defence Minister Ismail Sabri recently indicated that certain procedures, including the guideline for social distancing, would remain in place until an extended period of time after the MCO has been lifted.  - Mkini