Let's fight to get Hokkien to be on Malaysian Media

[wei]

Hokkien ppl hv constituted the largest portion of chinese community in malaysia but there is not hokkien program on local radio station...

I am sure most of u r so keen hoping that hokkien can be on the Chinese radio/tv station right?

ah_boy and I who are dialect enthusiasts are now striving to draft a plan to force local radio and tv station to air hokkien programs...

ah_boy is hakka and i am teochew, we are not hokkien... but hokkien is the only potential dialect that can get onto radio stations, and if our efforts are successful, there is hope for other chinese dialects...

astro are starting to play hokkien programs and 8TV (to start it's transmission on 8th of Jan 2004) is also planning to do that...

we can see that these newly established media company are seeking their way and finding their target aundience... it's time for us to give them enuf bravery to make the first step!!!

the newly established Wa! FM97.6 is also a new radio that is still finding it way... why not we do something to encourage and ensure them??

feel free to drop me a line at twsim17@yahoo.com
or go http://chinese.cari.com.my/myforum/foru ... php?fid=37 to send me a short msg...

of course i am pleased to see many ppl giving response on this topic i posted now...

[A-Hiong]

Isn't Malaysia's government suppressive against Chinese people there? I hear there are some extreme parties out there that are banning mini-skirts and forcing all women to wear head scarves. Most Chinese people aren't muslim though????

[Niuc]

Hi Wei

I'm really grateful to you & Ah_boy for what both of you do for Hokkien language & other Chinese languages in Malaysia. Although I am not a Malaysian, I gladly support your petition.

[%sig%]

[wei]

i hv never heard that the government are forcing non-muslims to wear scarves... i think u hv mistaken...

To Niuc,
what's is ur comment??

[yeobh]

Hi Wei,

I fully support your plan. In fact, my letter requesting for Hokkien TV programmes was published in the Star on 20 August 2003 and the New Straits Times on 28 July 2003. Sample of my letter has been posted in this forum under the topic of Retaining Hokkien Language which you have also commented. I have also emailed to the President of the Federation of Malaysian Hokkien Associations. But so far nothing positive seems to appear. It is really disheartening. Look like the Hokkiens, Hakkas and Teochews are too complacent. If their associations keep quiet, the government will take it that the Malaysian Chinese are generally happy with the predominance of Cantonese programmes over the TV and radio stations. We should pressure the related associations to review their stand and fight for programmes in other Chinese dialects since Cantonese programmes are still screened. At the same time, letters of complaints to the press should be stepped up.

Whatever it is, the crux of the issue is the availability of quality Hokkien programmes which are still very lacking. We can only hope that the Taiwanese stations will produce more Hokkien programmes of quality and promote them overseas like in the case of Korean and Japanese programmes. The local stations will definitely screen Hokkien programmes once they become popular and there is demand for them.

I sincerely hope your plan to pursue this matter will bear fruit. You can count on me for support.

With best regards,


Yeo

[Niuc]

Wei, I think A-Hiong was referring to PAS state government in Kelantan or Trengganu. I also read in newspaper recently that PAS just made a new law to force all people in the state to comply to Islamic dressing code, regardless of their religions. That's why Chinese are fleeing the state.

[%sig%]

[Andrew Yong]

Can you tell me what Hokkien movies + channels are available on Astro?

andrew

[yeobh]

As far as I know, no Hokkien movies and channels are available on Astro. Occasionally, Taiwanese documentaries are shown where Mandarin and Hokkien are used depending on circumstances. Perhaps, more viewers should write to Astro requesting for Hokkien and even Hakka programmes to be screened rather than concentrating on only Mandarin and Cantonese shows since Hokkiens constitute the largest Chinese dialect group in Malaysia followed by the Hakkas. Why should Astro discriminate against the other Chinese dialects by stipulating that Chinese contestants in their shows should be conversant in either Mandarin or Cantonese. This would mean those who are conversant only in Hokkien, Hakka or Teochew cannot participate eventhough they are Chinese!. I have written in to Astro to complain but as usual there is no reply. I hope more Malaysian Chinese viewers who would like to watch some shows in their own dialects would write to complain.

Yeo

[wei]

i think it's time we send mails to 8TV or 《八度空间》. This new TV channel plans to air Taiwanese Hokkien movies... it's a golden opportunity to urge them to do so...

www.8tv.com.my

i hope you all can mails to them regarding this matter...
besides, there are still other chinese media in our country that do not air Hokkien programs...

www.988.com.my
www.my.com.my

Unity is Strength! Let's do it!!!

[wei]

i would like to start it in penang since there is a very high hokkien population rate...

the problem i hv is that i do not hv anyone that can help me...