George Town Festival organiser apologises for Malay 'exclusion'

The organiser of the George Town Festival (GTF) 2024 has apologised for upsetting certain quarters with its teaser video promoting the event, which allegedly excluded the Malay community.

It explained that Malay artists had always participated in the event, including eight individuals and groups in this year's programme.

"To avoid misunderstanding, the GTF 2024 team has taken down all broadcast material regarding the event from its website, and social media.

"The fact is, we have tried to make every effort to ensure inclusive, comprehensive and balanced representation of all ethnicities, gender groups and ages in GTF programmes," the secretariat said in a statement today.

The organiser assured that it will continue to promote the event as a festival that fosters the spirit of goodwill for a prosperous Malaysian community.

"We would like to take this opportunity to apologise for the trouble and misunderstanding. We will continue to strive to make GTF 2024 a successful event, with humility."

'Denial of Malay culture'

Earlier, the one-minute 47-second promotion video for GTF 2024, received flak for excluding clips of Malay cultural aspects in Penang.

NGO Institut Kesedaran Rakyat chairperson Abdul Rahman Maidin said the video made it seem that Penang was exclusive to the Chinese and Indian communities.

"The video is against the sensitivities of the Malay community in Penang.

"There's not a single element that portrays (the Malays), as if the community does not exist in Penang," he told Malaysiakini.

Aside from asking for a public apology from the organiser, Rahman also called for a new video that included the Malay culture, to be presented as promotional material.

Penang PAS also slammed the video as seemingly denying the existence of Malay culture in the state.

Its information chief Muhammad Fawwaz Mohamad Jan further urged the Penang government to act against the organiser to preserve harmony in the state.

"Is this another agenda planned to portray Penang as being owned by certain races?

"Do the relevant parties want to deny the existence of the original Penang people who settled in Penang before Francis Light's colonisation?" he asked in a statement.

Fawwaz further questioned when the Penang government would change the name George Town to its original name Tanjung Penaga.

"Use a name that mirrors our identity, rather than one left behind by colonisers."

GTF is an annual arts event that has been held since 2010 to celebrate art, culture, heritage and community.

The program organized by state government company George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) serves as a platform for artists from all over the world to collaborate, create and network.

It is an important element in making George Town a creative city and a hub of innovation and artistic energy, including the development of the creative economy through the arts.

This edition involves artists from 15 countries through more than 80 programs consisting of performing arts, visual arts, film and dance.

The festival will last for 10 days from July 19 to July 28 this year.

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