The Malaysian Insight

RESPECT, or the lack of it, is the main thread running through the furore over the George Town Festival (GTF) taking down two portraits of Malaysians in a photo exhibition that started last Saturday.

Hobbyist photographer Mooreyameen Mohamed’s snapshots of Malaysians draped in the national flag shown at the exhibition included Nisha Ayub and Pang Khee Teik who are lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender (LBGT) activists.

LGBT activities are frowned, shunned and outlawed in Malaysia, and the new Pakatan Harapan (PH) government has said as much since coming to power in May. A policy no different from the previous Barisan Nasional (BN) government.

So, federal minister Mujahid Yusof Rawa ordered the Penang state secretary to tell the GTF organisers to pull down the two portraits after an online furore about the GTF seen as promoting such activities. The portraits were pulled down, sparking another outrage against it.

Here’s the thing, what right does the federal government have in instructing the state government to pull down the portraits? Is Putrajaya funding the GTF? Is it censoring the festival, which has built a reputation over the years for celebrating and showcasing diversity and uniqueness from around the world in one of Malaysia’s best cities – George Town?

On show is a group of Malaysians proud to drape their body in the national flag. On show is a group of Malaysians from diverse backgrounds promoting unity and patriotism. On show is a group of Malaysians who most likely vote and pay taxes.

On show is a group of Malaysians. Should they be discriminated for their sexuality or cause? 

Should the federal government pander to only a section of society who believe that the exhibition promotes causes contrary to their beliefs? What about others? Where does it stop?

More so, can the federal government respect the separation of federal-state ties? What law is being used to order the portraits to be brought down? Can Penang also respect the organisers for their judgment on what can be shown?

Mujahid, who showed his open-mindedness as an opposition lawmaker, is now walking down the path of those ridiculed years ago for thinking they know best. 

“We received a lot of comments from those who are hostile towards this group, so in order to calm the situation down I had to make the call.

“My main concern is I don’t want them to get hurt or victimised. Many are enraged by their ‘openness’. I want to protect them,” he was quoted as saying yesterday.

You know who said something similar almost 10 years ago? Syed Hamid Albar who as home minister in 2008 revealed that police detained a reporter in Penang under the Internal Security Act (ISA) for her own protection for reporting racist remarks by an Umno politician.

The Sinchew Daily reporter, Tan Hoon Cheng, was released after a day. Also arrested then was DAP lawmaker Teresa Kok, who is now primary industries minister.

Malaysians voted to throw out BN on May 9 for many reasons, not just the PH mantra that the ruling coalition then was thieving and corrupt. They voted out oppression and repression. Voters wanted equality and equity, and the subsequent euphoria and support reflected those feelings.

Right now, even before reaching 100 days in power, the PH government isn’t governing any differently than BN. 

The only difference is that PH isn’t seen as thieves yet, although the GTF fiasco has robbed some confidence that it can show respect and govern by the rule of law. – August 9, 2018.