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Tamil songs blocked from festival, Penang reps want PM to intervene
A Penang state executive council member and state lawmaker are up in arms after planned performances of two traditional Tamil songs at a Tamil language carnival organised by the Education Ministry, were reportedly blocked.
Decrying the situation, state councillor Sundarajoo Somu and Bagan Dalam assemblyperson Kumaran Krishnan called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek...
A Penang state executive council member and state lawmaker are up in arms after planned performances of two traditional Tamil songs at a Tamil language carnival organised by the Education Ministry, were reportedly blocked.
Decrying the situation, state councillor Sundarajoo Somu and Bagan Dalam assemblyperson Kumaran Krishnan called on Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek to intervene.
"We call for intervention from the prime minister and education minister so that appropriate action is taken immediately, and to ensure this doesn't happen again in the future," they said.
The two songs in question were 'Kadavul Valthu', a worship song, and 'Tamil Valthu’, which is a song about the Tamil language.
Sundarajoo and Kumaran described both songs as part of Indian heritage, and are performed in any Indian cultural or linguistic event.
Philosophical figure
It is unclear who exactly issued the directive reportedly prohibiting the songs from being performed at the National Tamil Language Carnival 2023 in Penang last night.
Sundarajoo and Kumaran said there were also allegations that banners featuring Tamil literary and philosophical figure, Thiruvalluvar, were also prohibited from the event.
"What is the justification for these prohibitions? We are very confused as to why such issues can occur at a national carnival organised by the Education Ministry to celebrate the Tamil language," the duo said in a joint statement today.
They added that such actions only serve to further divide the people.
Sundarajoo and Kumaran, who are chairperson and deputy chairperson of Penang's special committee on Tamil schools, said they have also contacted the state education department to demand a probe into the matter.
Malaysiakini has contacted Fadhlina's office for comment.
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