Arts project showcases children’s collective efforts

The arts, heritage and civil society organisations and community of Kuala Lumpur and Penang today condemned the harassment and politicking around a community arts project in Penang.

The Penang Arts Education Society (Arts-ED) which published the myBalikpulau booklet-cum-newsletter as a “showcase of the collective efforts” of Balik Pulau children and Arts-ED facilitators, are now accused of deliberately twisting history and insulting the Malays in Penang.

Arts-ED is not just well known for its myBalikpulau project but has worked on street theatrical performances, musicals, photography exhibitions and appreciation of history through heritage trails and oral history. In short, it is dedicated towards facilitating young people in safeguarding and promoting their natural, social, cultural and built heritage through the medium of art.

The myBalikpulau project is similar to the numerous creative outputs of the Malaysian arts community which offer alternative and refreshing viewpoints so that we can truly appreciate the rich heritage of Malaysia. Arts-ED and the children involved in the myBalikpulau project should be praised and supported, but instead they are being ridiculed and threatened. Lodging 15 police reports is systematic harassment amounting to bullying.

We the undersigned must point out that the real threat here is divisive race politics and irresponsible politicians who do not care for freedom of expression, social justice and democracy in Malaysia.

Endorsed by

Arts and heritage groups/organisation/company

1. Five Arts Centre
2. Reka Art Space
3. Ombak Ombak ARTStudio (Persatuan Seni Ombak-Ombak)
4. Penang Heritage Trust
5. Lost Generation Gallery
6. KaKi Creative
7. Fifth July
8. Tugu Drum Circle
9. Re-cap
10. Tan Yeow Wooi Culture Research Studio
11. Nanyang Folk Culture Society
12. The North Theatre Penang
13. A2 Gallery
14. yNot Music Studio
15. ZaoXinChang Theatre Troupe
16. Matahari Books
17. RAP (Persatuan Seni Rumah Air Panas)
18. Findars Art Collective
19. The Annexe Gallery
20. Sumunda
21. Kuali Works
22. The Instant Cafe Theatre Company
23. The Jumping JellyBeans
24. Pentas Project Theatre Production
25. Masakini Theatre Company
26. Random Alphabets
27. Rimbun Dahan
28. Sungai Lembing Community Art Project
29. Chow Kit Kita Community Mapping Project
30. Logamaya
31. Angkatan Budaya Balik Pulau (Abad)
32. Save Valley of Hope Solidarity Group
33. Neighborhood Performing Group
34. Soundmaker Studio

Civil society Organisations

1. 528 Media Action Group
2. All Women’s Action Society (Awam)
3. Center for Orang Asli Concerns
4. Centre for Independent Journalism Malaysia
5. Civil Rights Committee of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
6. Civil Society Committee of LLG Cultural Development Centre, KL
7. Friends of Penang Botanic Gardens Society
8. Gerakan Mahasiswa Maju Universiti Putra Malaysia (GMMUPM)
9. Kumpulan Daya Tindakan Wanita Sabah (Sawo)
10. LLG Cultural Development Centre, Penang
11. Malaysia Youth And Student Democratic Movement (Dema)
12. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor
13. Persatuan Sahabat Wanita, Selangor
14. Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia
15. Student Progressive Front New Era College (SPFNEC)
16. Student Progressive Front University Sains Malaysia (SPFUSM)
17. Student Progressive Front University Utara Malaysia (SPFUUM)
18. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram)
19. The Penang Chinese Independent Schools’ Education Society
20. WAMI – Writers Alliance for Media Independence
21. Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO)
22. Youth Section of The Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall
23. Pusat Komas
24. Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (Permas)