An open letter to the Prime Minister of Malaysia : Art and culture, where are you?
Dear Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim,
There is no Prime Minister of this country who I believe understands the meaning and role of culture and the arts better than YAB Datuk Seri himself. I also believe that Datuk Seri’s interest and inclination towards culture, art and literature is not pretentious, but honest and genuine.
Our cultural and artistic traditions are in crisis. We are not less cultural and artists. We lack the support of the government and the patronage of the private sector. Our political leaders are generally blind to culture and art. Our administrators are not cultural managers as they should be. So that cultural art is not adequately defended.
At least literature and writers have the Language and Library Council (DBP). But art and culture do not have thousands and fathers. Before this, at least there was a ministry whose official name listed “arts and culture” even though it was written together with the word “tourism.”
So there is a certain amount of attention given to what the bureaucrats define as “art and culture.” Unfortunately, the part that involves “arts and culture” in the ministry is clearly isolated with too little cost. The ministry’s priority is of course to make a massive promotion to attract tourists who are said to bring in RM50 billion a year.
I have personally warned many times that it is not possible for there to be compatibility between “tourism” and “art and culture”. This does not mean that tourism has nothing to do with culture and art. In fact, we can learn from the island of Bali in Indonesia about how the island “sells” art and culture as the main attraction for tourists in addition to promising the beauty of its surroundings.
But in Datuk Seri’s cabinet for some reason the “arts and culture” simply disappeared. All that remains is “tourism”. So artists and culturalists ask, “art and culture, where exactly?” What functions are distributed to other ministries, which may be overlooked by cultural analysts and art activists?
They even asked why the smear of “arts and culture” that was in the previous ministry (even as far as passenger status) kept disappearing from the radar of the country’s priorities.
Datuk Seri certainly better understands the meaning of building a nation state and efforts to build civilization. We also need to support the artistic and cultural traditions of our ancestors.
Cultivators and artists understand the importance of developing the country, addressing issues of poverty and the rising cost of living as well as efforts to attract foreign investment at this time.
But don’t ignore culture and art. The fact is, so far there have been too many sacrifices in culture and art for reasons of religion, politics, finance, or whatever else. Over time, the scope of art and culture is shrinking and eroding.
Datuk Seri is more aware of the existence of a narrow understanding of culture and art that has killed so many traditions of art and culture of the nation’s children. There is no point in crying over the loss of makyung performing arts, wayang kulit, menorah, and also the disappearance of kuda kepang, ketoprak, wang wong, wayang geduk and I don’t know what else.
Art and culture become the first victims when politicians peddle religion to prove their level of Islam. The art statement becomes mute, frozen and sometimes even dies. Witty dialogue about art is also sometimes feared by waima in the ivory tower. Artists feel they are too small and unappreciated.
We know that art and culture are a reflection of the nation. Artistic tradition is a barometer of the progress of the mind of any nation. A nation that marginalizes its artistic and cultural traditions will continue to be imprisoned in the smallness of the mind and the stagnation of understanding. This is the crisis happening in our society today. In a political situation that is not tense yet divisive , it seems that the victim is the growth and development of art, culture and literature.
During his lifetime I met Indonesia’s famous novelist, Pak Prameodya Ananta Toer. I ask for his honest opinion on the difference between the construction of the identity of the Indonesian nation and the Malaysian nation. Jokingly, he said, Indonesians are slow to move forward because they carry their cultural baggage faithfully, while Malaysians move forward with their cultural roots.
Today I believe in that view. We advance with the symbol of stone construction, economic progress and personal luxury. Indonesia takes time to compete with us because they bring a soul and conscience in moving forward.
No wonder they put “education” and “culture” as the name of a ministry. For a long time they had the “Ministry of Education and Culture” although recently it was added to the “Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia.” (Kemdikbud-Ristek).
They want to defend the correct “public mindset” in the context of building a nation that is patriotic, understands history, speaks the same language and understands art and culture. That is the backbone of their patriotism. Therefore, the core of their national nation building should be envied by us.
My direct involvement in art and culture for over 50 years has taught me that the horizons of art and culture are shrinking. It is not only small in terms of attention and support but also small in authority and discourse. It is unfortunate that there is no support from the government as expected.
And I know the unfortunate life that many cultural people and artists lead. Also their disappointment to see their contribution appreciated by the country. In fact, we have stopped the National Art Award for a long time, the only highest honor for our culture and artists.
I remembered the desire of the late Kaktijah Awang to perform makyung on a large scale and authentically. I understand the disappointment of Dalang Dollah Baju Merah whose prowess in wayang kukit art is only limited to Kelantan. I felt the groans of the late Rahman B, the doyen of nobility who wanted to stage nobility before the end of his verse. All their wishes were not fulfilled.
I also understand how difficult it is for cultural arts activists in villages and villages across the country today to continue their artistic traditions.
And I better understand the problems of theater, music and other artists who have to face the storm of forgetfulness and indifference of the bureaucrats in addition to the lack of support and private funding to support their activities. Artists are angry and frustrated.
We all know the capabilities of our artists, from those on the street including buskers and theater groups. They can! But we also know how our main art stages are impossible to fill. The Anniversary Stage at Taman Botani Perdana became an abandoned white elephant. Istana Budaya is only a grand building that is used a year or several times.
Ask how many times have been used the main stages that we have in Kuala Lumpur, from Tun Syed Nasir Cultural Center and DBP Auditorium and DBP Theater Store. There are also many stages and spaces provided by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL), in addition to the experimental stage in the ivory tower.
When will Kuala Lumpur really become a city of art and culture?
I understand the bureaucratic answer is that there are indeed sections and departments that provide support, funds and assistance to artists. But arts activists know that help doesn’t come easily. Funds are hidden among so many departments and institutions and funds that are not only difficult to trace but the administrators always take a less than helpful attitude.
Even worse there is an overlap of powers between the ministries involved, for example between the Ministry of Communications and Mutimedia (now the Ministry of Digital Communications) with the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (now the Ministry of Science and Technology) and also the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (now the Ministry of Tourism ). This is an unresolved legacy problem.
I also believe that Datuk Seri understands the importance and magnitude of the creative content industry in the world today. This is a multi-billion ringgit industry. It catapulted many countries to a new stage of economy as happened in South Korea. Technology and innovation are shaping the current art and culture landscape. The world of entertainment is changing with new dynamics made possible by innovation in the creative content industry.
All that happened because of the right government strategy, a conducive eco-system and reasonable support funds. It requires long-term strategic planning by the country. The creative content industry is the industry of the future that we should give priority to.
Finally, remember the language of the nation’s soul. Cultural art is the root of national identity. Let’s not forget the need for us to build the image of the nation for the sake of unity and understanding of the many rich cultures in this country. Cultural diversity is a strength in a plural country like ours. The common sense and wisdom of a nation starts from a fertile and complete artistic and cultural tradition.
Datuk Seri Prime Minister certainly understands more about that.
* Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar is a National Journalist. He is an art activist as well as a creative writer and columnist. His book Jejak Seni: Dari Pentas Bangsawan ke Media Prima Berhad was published by DBP. ** This article is the author’s personal opinion based on his field and does not necessarily represent the opinion of editors.
