YOURSAY | ‘Indeed, Malaysian films have become unwatchable.’

Forget about Finas, critic tells local film makers

Kamrul: Film critic Hassan Abdul Muthalib, thank you very much for your honest-to-goodness comments on how the local film industry needs to forget about the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas).

Finas and all other government agencies are managed by self-serving political ‘ketuanan’ (supremacy) elites. All these agencies are being run to the ground by these political appointees.

MerdekaMerdekaMerdeka: I don’t follow the local film industry to the tee, but Hassan, for a fellow Malay to recognise the insignificance of Finas to local film production and acknowledge so precisely, the cluelessness of all those on board, I say syabas to you, sir.

Telling it as it is, without fear or favour, to your own community takes lots of courage and resolve. It’s very dignifying.

Xenobio: I can't say I know anything about the film industry. But this article highlights one of the huge reasons for the mismatch between the creativity and brilliance of individual Malaysians that we see in various cases versus the weak industry for creative arts in Malaysia.

Lack of support and bureaucrats who just ‘makan gaji buta’ instead of actually caring about their mission.

Anonymous_3f4b: The films churned out by Finas are either love stories or horror movies, nothing else.

They only appeal to the uninformed segment of society.

Malaysian films and their direction are the worst in Southeast Asia, often falling behind the creative talents of Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and even Singapore.

Has any Malaysian film sponsored and sanctioned by Finas, not counting the independent ones, won an international award?

Finas films are devoid of humanitarian, socio-economic, socio-cultural, and socio-historical values that can impress the international audience.

JazliSalleh: Indeed, Malaysian films have become unwatchable. They are so unrealistic, draggy and full of self-glorification.

Many of us are opting to watch Japanese, Korean and English films. It’s sad that our younger generation is stuck with movies produced under Finas.

Jk7462000: Finas isn’t the only one with this issue. Practically all agencies with political appointments have the same problem. That's Malaysia.

The problem is so systemic and ingrained.

OCT: I agree. All government-linked companies and government departments are headed by those who know nuts about their job scope and responsibilities. When there no is responsibility and accountability, nothing good will come out of it.

These top posts are rewards for the support given to the government by politicians and their cronies. These top posts are not selected based on capabilities, expertise, experience and proven track record.

CEOs and chairpersons are there to collect high pay, perks, allowances and entitlements. Shaking legs is all they do.

When foreigners and investors come for a meeting, they must communicate in Bahasa Malaysia or else they won't attend. It seems the world owes them a living, not vice versa.

Our neighbouring countries are all opening up to attract investors. On the other hand, the Malaysian government is building walls instead of bridges. We are only good as ‘jaguh kampung’ (village champion).

Doc: Yes, the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government and the Umno government before them only promotes corruption, incompetence and fellow political affiliates. Hence the best person for the job is not picked.

In short, our government agency staff are no different from how the zombies in Korean flicks act and think.

YellowGecko9040: This reminds me of the Health Ministry, supposedly the last bastion to not see this, but unfortunately the same rot has set in for many years now already.

So, people with poor command of English, poor management skills and poor leadership sit in their ivory towers at the hundreds of small departments as head of something ‘important’ in Putrajaya and determine whether doctors working hard on the ground can or cannot get leave or get space for post-graduate studies or get a permanent post or a promotion.

These are the paper pushers who don’t do any clinical work, yet are considered experts when it comes to managing the clinicians. Thus, the sad and poor state of affairs in our bloated civil service.

Anoy8: The only things they can keep alive are politics, corruption, religion and discrimination. Yet they are the government.

The world has advanced so much, even for Islamic countries like Indonesia. We are going back to the days when there are no laws, or in this case, laws don’t matter. We deserve not to exist.

FairMalaysian: Among the directors in Finas, there is one non-Malay. Maybe to call it "multiracial".

If you want the Malaysian film industry to scale heights, appoint rapper Namewee as its director-general.

And who is expecting Communications and Multimedia Minister Annuar Musa to put Malaysia on the world movie map?

By the way, what happened to the Movie Animation Park Studios (Maps) in Perak?

Koel: Once again, we see an agency that is irrelevant being used to destroy arts and our artistic imagination.

Narrow-minded and illiterate individuals with little artistic appreciation or understanding are promoted into positions way above their capacity to oversee the flourishing of the film industry in this country.

Hence all the ‘pontianak’ movies. Finas itself is a horror show.

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