28-yr old nocturnal over@nal geekette Malaysian.
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Sorry, You don't look Malaysian
Here we go again - another Information Minister with a grudge against the Pan-Asian look.
The ban on foreign flavoured advertisements and models with Pan-Asian looks featured on private television channels, newspapers and billboards will continue to be enforced. Information Minster Datuk Zainuddin Maidin said the ban had been long imposed by RTM and it would be maintained.This isn't the first time such a ban is enforced. If anyone remembered, past Information Minister Mohammad Rahmat had enforced the same ruling during his period in office. Jokes within the industry had it that he merely didn't want anyone better looking than he was
~Zam: Ban on foreign flavour in ads stays, The Star, Feb 3rd 2007
A recent suggestion by the Information Minister to reduce the number of Pan-Asian looking models in TV commercials has caused confusion among the models, Kosmo! reported on its front page. Some models felt the move would affect their “rice bowl”, adding that it would not be fair to them as they were also Malaysians. ~Models with Pan-Asian look not happy with proposal, The Star, Feb 6th 2007I personally think the ruling is unfair because it discriminates mixed-parentage Malaysians when we should be embracing our cultural diversity. But this could just be a sneak preview of the government's enforcement of the new and vague Negara Bangsa concept that's replaced Bangsa Malaysia. Think about it - television commercials that evidently segregates races by looks. We will continuously be represented by three faces - Malay, Chinese and Indian. What will happen to the minority? The East Malaysians who look endearingly Pan-Asian as well, and those who look neither Malay or Chinese because their parents are both respectively. When will this race issue ever end?
On the economics side of things, the already small talent pool in the industry who've made a living out of their faces will definitely suffer. I would think that it would've been more appropriate if Datuk Zainuddin Maidin maintained the enforcement of Made-in-Malaysia (MIM) only commercials to protect the local industry and talent pool as a whole. That way, you wouldn't even see any foreign faces gracing our media.
Besides, if this ban gets fully enforced, and if Lee and I had kids, how else would they earn any money? =P I think Sourrain and Mei would agree too no? Heheh...
postdate: Just as I blogged about the Information Minister having to keep the (MIM) ruling, The Star reported today that he has.
Comments
last time they also banned Justice Pao from being aired on TV saying costume dramas are not supposed to be showed...
I smell... racism
sarah tan will get banned as well ?
Relax | February 8, 2007 8:05 AM
Here We Go Again...
another proof of stupidity repeats itself!
me likey sarah's white undies...
mob1900 | February 8, 2007 8:36 AM
This is the exact opposite of what you would want to establish as a multicultural-friendly environment. =.=
Mei | February 8, 2007 10:30 AM
mob & relax: Sarah Tan is not on local tv stations. She's on Channel V lah. =P
mei: they've never had it established, and they don't seem to ever want to. the govt enjoys the segregation and wants to maintain it. it took my mum 12 years to finally get her PR despite being legally married and having 2 kids. if Nil were to move to Msia, watch how long and tedious the process will be for him to stay. besides, our regulations never supported Msian women marrying foreigners. a minister once said the woman should follow the man home.
midnite lily | February 8, 2007 10:45 AM
To me, he has insulted not only those Pan-Asian look models but their parents too. Hmmmmm...too much my comment?
Other bloggers also blogged about this:
The Sensintrovert: Pan-Asian/Eurasian-Looking Models: A Cause for Concern?
“may the truth save us all”: Do I look pan asian?
4896: Does it sound discrimination?
Kean-Jin Lim | February 8, 2007 3:58 PM
Ohyes! I know. You know Jordan? He's Canadian and married to a Malaysian Muslim. He has so many problems just getting a visa to stay with his wife. =.=
Which is why from the start I told Nil that I never want him to reside here. It is very different from what he is used to.
Mei | February 8, 2007 11:04 PM
thanks for the links, kean-jin
mei: yeah, jordan macvay. sad no. oh well, not our loss.
midnite lily | February 9, 2007 10:47 AM