INTERVIEW | “If I change as a person, please tell me. No fancy watches,” stressed newly-minted Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
He was reflecting on his journey from being an opposition backbencher to a minister in the cabinet of the Anwar Ibrahim-led administration.
Speaking to Malaysiakini, Fahmi, 42, is no stranger to the media practitioners - he was the main source of reference for confirmation on any issue related to Pakatan Harapan and PKR.
Fahmi began his political career by joining PKR in 2010 and served as political secretary to the then Lembah Pantai MP-cum-PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar from 2010 to 2013.
He spoke of the challenges of juggling his various roles as a minister, an MP, and a member of his party.
“I wish there were 10 days in a week so that I can spend more time - as many days in Putrajaya as I do in Lembah Pantai.
“Sometimes, the work demands or requires me to be in other states to make visits to see for myself what's happening on the ground,” Fahmi said in an exclusive interview held at his office in Lembah Pantai, Kuala Lumpur.
He cited an incident where water disruption had recently hit parts of Bangsar.
“I got to know about it when residents contacted me. It is my style to be on the ground. This thing (going on the ground to resolve issues) comes naturally to me… now I may have some kekangan (difficulties) to physically be present there.
“It also means that I am juggling things, sorting things out, compartmentalising, trying to be more efficient with my time than before,” he said.
The two-term Lembah Pantai MP assured that ideas he has set his mind on for Lembah Pantai - prior to his appointment - would be carried on, citing upgrades for certain infrastructure and highlighting flooding issues that occurred in Kampung Pasir in the last two years.
According to Fahmi, work is ongoing to build an underground water retention pond to help manage the spillover from the New Pantai Expressway (NPE) before it enters Sungai Klang, as well as early works to build a Type 2 government clinic in Pantai Dalam.
He noted the presence of some major buildings and industry players within his constituency, such as Angkasapuri and Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), Universiti Malaya, Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB), Telekom Malaysia, Bukit Aman, Carcosa Seri Negara, the KTM headquarters and Midvalley.
“I'd like to see further development in Lembah Pantai that engages more with residents. When Bangsar South was set up six or seven years ago, there was a certain sense of animosity or antagonism at that time because ‘this is not part of us’.
“‘We can’t work there, we can’t afford to buy things there (that was what being said) at that time,” he said.
In the 2018 general election, Fahmi won with a majority of 5,598 votes, less than 10 percent of the total votes, even as votes against him were split between BN’s Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin and PAS’ Fauzi Abu Bakar.
His share of the votes was more than doubled in the 15th general election held last year, rising above his opponents BN’s Ramlan Askolani, Perikatan Nasional’s Fauzi Abu Bakar and Pejuang’s Dr Asmah Razalli - with a 13,912 majority.
“I would like to see parts of Lembah Pantai experience further rapid developments, but I would also like to ensure that children - who were born and grew up here (in Lembah Pantai) - can find work and housing so that the community is not broken up by development,” Fahmi stressed.
Ready to be a minister
Asked if he felt prepared to take on the role (of minister), he said: “No, I didn't know! I found out that I was going to be minister five minutes before the prime minister announced it on TV. I didn't lobby, ask or do anything of the sort."
However, Fahmi said that there are some who felt that he is a “natural fit”.
"To me, it's a big responsibility. I come from a family of civil servants. My mum was an Administrative and Diplomatic Officer (PTD) officer and she served in the Information Department in the late 80s. I used to go to Angkasapuri as a child. I remember when she took me (there)... so, in that sense, I have been exposed to the civil service from a very, very young age.
“My dad ran Felda, and my mum was in 11 different ministries and agencies, so it’s in my blood (and) it’s not unnatural,” added the Lembah Pantai MP.
Born in Kuala Lumpur, he is the son of former Felda director-general and general manager Fadzil Yunus and Fauziah Ramly.
A jack of all trades, Fahmi trained as an engineer at Purdue University in Indiana, United States, before moving on to acting both in films such as ‘Gol Dan Gincu’ and theatre works, where he is often linked to the theatre collective Five Arts Centre.
He moved away from the theatre collective - of which he was a member - shortly after the announcement of his ministerial post to avoid any conflict of interest.
His political career kickstarted when he joined PKR in 2010.
Since then, Fahmi has served as political secretary to then-Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah as well as in various positions within the party and the Harapan coalition, such as PKR information chief and Harapan communications director.
Golden Globes win for Michelle Yeoh
On Jan 24, Michelle Yeoh received her first Academy Awards nomination for Best Actress for her role as Evelyn Quan in the hit film ‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’. She is also nominated for the 2023 EE Bafta Film Awards.
Earlier this month, Yeoh bagged her first Golden Globes in the Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy category for her work on the same film.
The Ipoh-born 61-year-old’s triumph at the Golden Globes sparked questions about whether it was appropriate to claim her win as being one for Malaysia, as critics pointed out that she did not necessarily take a Malaysian road to the Oscars.
Asked if Finas has served any meaningful impact on the arts industry, Fahmi - whose ministry oversees the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) - felt that Finas has generally played a role within the industry.
“It depends on how the actors negotiate in the scene. We know who engages with the system.
“We don’t have an unionised system right now, where in certain countries, (there are) certain jurisdictions in order for you to be a cinematographer, a casting agent, a producer,” he said.
He added that in other countries, industry members must register for a licence to work.
“Someone like Michelle Yeoh serves as an inspiration for a lot of young budding actors.
“To me, having just come into this role as a minister in charge of Communications and Digital, and organisations like Finas, I do wonder what it is that organisations and bodies like Finas can do to better support actors, creatives, filmmakers and directors because it’s not just about Michelle Yeoh,” he said, adding that many of his friends in the arts have reached out following her win.
He highlighted issues of pay for actors, health and safety issues and the rights of production crews.
“It’s not called nine-to-five (referring to the profession). I remember I was an extra on a film set and I waited eight hours for what eventually became a five-second scene in the whole film - so I know what that’s like and (it’s) also one of the reasons why I decided not to pursue the craft of being a film actor.
“A lot of people who do it do it because of love. You love the craft, you love the form, you love films,” Fahmi added.
When thinking about Malaysia, he said, those who go and watch films are just a fraction of the 34 million people in Malaysia - with the market shrinking for those interested in niche, arthouse films.
“Can Malaysia claim anything on the success of these artistes who've gone international? Mind you, it’s not just Yeoh, whether they are sportsmen or in other fields,” he said.
He went on to say that he intends to look into certain aspects of Finas as highlighted in the Auditor-General’s report.
This is the first of a three-part interview with Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Watch out for ‘Fahmi dreams of a golden digital decade for Malaysia’ and ‘Fahmi: We must bridge the connectivity divide between the T20 and B40’ in the coming days. - Mkini
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