Malaysian Idol, Akademi Fantasia and "Asian values"

Here we go again — the concern over Asian values. This time it surrounds the hugely popular reality shows on TV such as “Malaysian Idol”, “Akademi Fantasia”, “Mencari Cinta”, etc.

The New Straits Times reported on 3 August that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak complained about how the reality shows lacked Asian values. Even though these are local/Malaysian versions, they, according to him, “borrow extensively from Western culture which he feared could threaten Eastern values and lead to moral decadence.” Never mind that Akademi Fantasia was based on a programme from Brazil.

But what exactly are the Asian/Eastern values that were lacking? All Najib was reported to have said is that “the stations must also take into account the aspiration to build a country and people in their own mould.” But what is that mould that supposedly embodies Asian values? NST did not appear to think it was important to ask that of Najib. No examples were thus given to illustrate Asian values.

Muddled thinking

But that did not prevent Information Minister Abdul Kadir Sheikh Fadzir from telling private TV stations to pay serious attention to Najib’s comment.

Neither did it deter the spokespersons of private TV stations to respond. Among them was chief operating officer Ahmad Izham Omar of 8TV, which carries “Malaysian Idol”. He reportedly said that the show “portrays racial harmony as Malaysian of different races and backgrounds take part in it.”

Say what? What then about the US version of the show, “American Idol”, which boasts of Americans from even more races and backgrounds competing?

8TV’s ridiculous response is an indication of how muddled the thinking on Asian values is. But this is hardly new. When Mahathir was the prime minister, he had made a sport out of hitting out at the pervasive Western culture. It probably scored political points for him with many Malaysians.

Mahathir's inconsistency

Remember, how he exhorted Malaysians not to allow Asian values to be corrupted or replaced by Western values? But then he hardly gave examples to illustrate Asian values other than to point to two stereotypical traits. He would like to say that Asians like Malaysians have an affinity for authoritarian leadership because unlike Westerners, they are not individualistic and they operate by consensus rather than confrontation.

But, if so, how much of an Asian is he then? Did the media not always show how he would always do things his way, and he would even pride himself to be au contraire? His confrontational, combative style is well known not just within but also outside Malaysia.

This inconsistency obviously cast doubt on his view of Malaysians as having an affinity for authoritarian leadership. One could not help but conclude that it was a way for him to justify his iron-fist rule.

But, of course, none of the above views of Mahathir’s was questioned when he was the prime minister. (And even though Mahathir is no longer the prime minister, as Lat’s cartoon on 30 July aptly portrayed, he can still be noisy and act like the prime minister.)

Meanwhile, the Malaysian mainstream press should have known better by now than to just quote politicians spouting vague references about Asian values. It is high time that they ask them for specifics: what are the specific Asian values or cultural traits that are lacking in reality TV shows? Only then will there be a healthy debate on the issue. At the least, it might have prevented 8TV chief operating officer from coming up with that ridiculous response to Najib’s empty rhetoric.