PROJEK SENI PAPARAN USAHA KOLEKTIF KANAK-KANAK - BUKAN UNTUK POLITIK PERKAUMAN YANG TIDAK BERTANGGUNJAWAB

Kumpulan kumpulan seni, warisan dan organisasi-organisasi sivil dari Kuala Lumpur dan Pulau Pinang membantah kuat gangguan dan hasutan bersifat perkauman terhadap risalah myBALIKpulau yang diterbitkan oleh Persatuan Pendidikan Seni Pulau Pinang (Arts-ED). Risalah myBALIKpulau yang merupai usaha koleftif kanak-kanak Balik Pulau bersama fasilitator/pemudah cara Arts-ED, telah dituduh mempermainkan sejarah dan menghina Melayu di Pulau Pinang.

Arts-ED dikenali dalam bidang pendidikan seni dan telah menjalankan projek-projek seni seperti persembahan teater jalanan, muzikal, pameran fotografi dan apresiasi terhadap sejarah melalui jejak warisan dan sejarah lisan. Ringkasnya, Arts-ED berdedikasi memudahkan generasi muda untuk memahami, memelihara dan mempromosikan alam semulajadi, sosial, budaya dan warisan ketara mereka melalui medium seni.

Projek myBALIKpulau serupa dengan pelbagai karya seni kreatif yang dihasilkan oleh kumpulan-kumpulan seni yang lain yang menawarkan pandangan alternatif dan pandangan barus upaya kita boleh benar-benar menghargai warisan kaya Malaysia.

Arts-ED dan kanak-kanak yang terlibat dalam projek myBALIKpulau harus dipuji dan disokong, tetapi mereka diejek dan diancam. 15 laporan polis yang dilaporkan adalahgangguan sistematik seerti dengan niat membuli.

Kami yang memberi tandatangan di sini ingin menekankan bahawa ancaman ini sebenarnya adalah ahli politik yang tidak bertanggungjawab yang menggunakan politik perkauman dan tidak peduli kebebasan berekspresi, keadilan sosial dan demokrasi di Malaysia.

Berikut adalah kumpulan-kumpulan yang menyokong kenyataan di atas:

**************************

English Version:

ARTS PROJECT TO SHOWCASE COLLECTIVE EFFORTS OF CHILDREN – NOT FOR RACIAL POLITICKING BY IRRESPOSIBLE POLITICIANS

The Arts, Heritage and Civil Society organizations and community of Kuala Lumpur and Penang condemn the harassment and politicking around a community arts project in Penang. The Penang Arts Education Society (Arts-ED) which published the myBalikpulau booklet-cum-newsletter as a “showcase of the collective efforts” of Balik Pulau children and Arts-ED facilitators, are now accused of deliberately twisting history and insulting the Malays in Penang.

Arts-ED is not just well known for its myBalikpulau project but has worked on street theatrical performances, musicals, photography exhibitions and appreciation of history through heritage trails and oral history. In short it is dedicated towards facilitating young people in safeguarding and promoting their natural, social, cultural and built heritage through the medium of art.

The myBalikpulau project is similar to the numerous creative outputs of the Malaysian arts community which offer alternative and refreshing viewpoints so that we can truly appreciate the rich heritage of Malaysia. Arts-ED and the children involved in the myBalikpulau project should be praised and supported, but instead they are being ridiculed and threatened. Lodging 15 police reports is systematic harassment amounting to bullying.

We the undersigned must point out that the real threat here is divisive race politics and irresponsible politicians who do not care for freedom of expression, social justice and democracy in Malaysia.

Kumpulan/Organisasi Seni dan Warisan

1) Five Arts Centre

2) Reka Art Space

3) Ombak Ombak ARTStudio (Persatuan Seni Ombak-Ombak)

4) Penang Heritage Trust ( Persatuan Warisan Pulau Pinang)

5) Lost Generation Gallery

6) KaKi Creative

7) Fifth July

8) Tugu Drum Circle

9) Re-cap

10) Tan Yeow Wooi Culture Research Studio

11) Nanyang Folk Culture Society

12) The North Theatre Penang

13) A2 Gallery

14) yNot Music Studio

15) ZaoXinChang Theatre Troupe

16) Matahari Books

17) RAP (Persatuan Seni Rumah Air Panas)

18) Findars Art Collective

19) The Annexe Gallery

20) Sumunda

21) Kuali Works

22) The Instant Cafe Theatre Company

23) The Jumping JellyBeans

24) Pentas Project Theatre Production

25) Masakini Theatre Company

26) Random Alphabets

27) Rimbun Dahan

28) Sungai Lembing Community Art Project

29) Chow Kit Kita Community Mapping Project

30) Logamaya

31) Angkatan Budaya Balik Pulau (ABAD)

32) Save Valley of Hope Solidarity Group

33) Neighborhood Performing Group

34) Soundmaker Studio

Organisasi-organisasi Sivil

1) 528 Media Action Group

2) All Women’s Action Society (AWAM)

3) Center for Orang Asli Concerns

4) Centre for Independent Journalism Malaysia

5) Civil Rights Committee of KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

6) Civil Society Committee of LLG Cultural Development Centre, KL

7) Friends of Penang Botanic Gardens Society

8) Gerakan Mahasiswa Maju Universiti Putra Malaysia (GMMUPM)

9) Kumpulan Daya Tindakan Wanita Sabah (SAWO)

10) LLG Cultural Development Centre, Penang

11) Malaysia Youth And Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)

12) Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor

13) Persatuan Sahabat Wanita, Selangor

14) Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia

15) Student Progressive Front New Era College (SPFNEC)

16) Student Progressive Front University Sains Malaysia (SPFUSM)

17) Student Progressive Front University Utara Malaysia (SPFUUM)

18) Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)

19) The Penang Chinese Independent Schools' Education Society

20) WAMI - Writers Alliance for Media Independence

21) Women's Aid Organisation (WAO)

22) Youth Section of The Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall

23) PUSAT KOMAS

24) Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS)