The lack of respect in the GTF snapshot fiasco

Jahabar Sadiq Jahabar Sadiq Updated 7 years ago · Published on 9 Aug 2018 11:30AM · 12 Comments

A federal minister says the new Pakatan Harapan government's stance towards LBGT is to not promote its activities. – EPA pic, August 9, 2018.

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.     

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Comments

  • Well said Jahabar. If they really want to protect Malaysians then go after the hostiles. Where in the Constitution are LGBT specifically mentioned as undesirable. This is pure nonsense

    Posted 7 years ago by Lawman will · Reply

  • well said....
    my hopes for a "New" Malaysia is slowing fading.....

    Posted 7 years ago by The Lone Ranger ... · Reply

  • No respect to the nation Constitution & rukun negara

    Posted 7 years ago by Azmin Ishak · Reply

  • Damn if you do and damn if you dont. I voted you in and I want what I want today. So whats the option? Give back to BN. Yes ... theyre not perfect. Far from it. But should we not give them time and the benefit of our doubt? Or perhaps lets just be damned with this country?

    Posted 7 years ago by NA Bayezid · Reply

  • PH has come astray in most of their beliefs in their manifesto. The basic wants of the rakyat in seeing an economic well being of their lives are far far away from their reach. Commodities prices are still as high and now even retailers and minimarkets are bringing up their prices in basic essentials such as cooking oil , rice , vegetables poultries and meat and even fishes and other aqua products are all stabilising at high prices. Is PH aware of all these or due to incompetence in the enforcement agency or sabotaging is in hand. What's the use of crying victory in abolishing GST when there is nothing in returns to reslove the miseries of Rakyat daily liliving.. Tolls on all the express and highway are PH battle cries to win over the rakayt votes and now coveniently forgotten even it is already a 100 days. No indicator at all in seriously looking to revise or even abolishment of certain routes from the charges but instead we have a grand ceremony in introducing a donation drive to save the country. True there may not be enough in the coffers to do wonders but least have a blue print plan and schedule on the neccessary actions to be implemented so that a good monitoring of achivements by both rakyat and government are in place. Do not just act bodoh bodoh hoping that rakyat will forget about it What is going on PH ???. UmnoBn are long gone and no more a punching bag, or even an outlet as an excuse to lump all wrongs in their account. What the freaking pride in going for the next national car when the simple task in the home front are not even given a bother. If the triviality of LGBT concerns in the GTF are holding prominence and priority in PH administration for fear from a segment of a communal group I dread to wonder what capabilities PH has to offer in administrating a multi racial country. To bring it to greater height needs more than just relying on trivial actions such as the recent annoucement in cutting down lottery draw to bring about an economic well being of the rakyat makes is really a low tier level in governance. PH buck up please!!!

    Posted 7 years ago by Lee Lee · Reply

  • Mujahid Yusof Rawa, as it unfortunately turns out, is just another Ayatollah wannabe. Within three months he has brought immense disappointment and dismay to the early promise of the Alliance of Hope. Such a blinkered mindset, driven by an archaic and parochial belief system, leaves every honest, clear-thinking, fair-minded human being with a sense of utter HOPELESSNESS!

    Posted 7 years ago by Antares Maitreya · Reply

  • Jahabar may I beg to differ. I voted PH. A few of my best mates belong to the LGBT community. I am straight. In this case I am with the right thinking minister decision and comments. Purely on the grounds our principal religion is Islam and activities contrary to its teachings should be handled with utmost care and certainly never be seen as encouraging the lifestyle or chosen path.. ?
    My moslem friends forgive me if I'm wrong. I am a non muslim.

    Posted 7 years ago by Simon Wong · Reply

    • Saudara Simon, I am pro-LGBT, but because the general Malaysian population (I think) is not ready to fully embrace the LGBT community, I would never try to shove it in their collective face. In that regard, I agree with you - care is needed in view of the extreme sensitivities.

      However, in this case, there was no overt promotion of LGBT issues. It was merely the display of two LGBT activists. They can't show their faces in public? A man called Hitler comes to mind. Anyway, if Mujahid think that anybody was in danger, then he get the police to provide protection, instead of silencing the activists by removing them from public view.

      Peace.

      Posted 7 years ago by Burrd Lim · Reply

    • Well said. The minister had over reacted perhaps. In this particular case. Mujahid is an Islamic scholar. I was putting myself in his shoes.
      I was fortunate enough to have met the man once before and can recall the enlightening conversation we shared.

      Posted 7 years ago by Simon Wong · Reply

  • Minister Mujahid, you protect them by removing them from public view? Hmmm, seems legit. Duh! The next time you are threatened, should be be placed under house arrest for your own safety? No! You're insulting our intelligence by rehashing BN's excuses.

    Posted 7 years ago by Burrd Lim · Reply

  • And as I said eslewhere, what's next? Same sex marriage? Non-gender based toilets? Gay prides? Shows like Queer as Folk or Brokeback Mountain? Cos you won't stop, because you never differentiate between an activist agenda (of which, it has been proven that there is one), and true empathy for the LGBTQ community.

    Posted 7 years ago by Rock Hensem · Reply