George Town Festival takes down promo videos amid inclusitivity concerns, issues apology

George Town Festival 2024 (GTF) has removed promotional videos after it was accused of promoting only ethnic Chinese and Indian cultures in the clips. 

GTF also apologised for "unintentionally" offending certain individuals and groups. It also said it has taken down all posts related to the video on its social media pages, website and YouTube channel. 

In a media statement, GTF said it had tried its best to ensure inclusive, comprehensive and balanced representation of all genders, ages and ethnic groups in its programme.

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It added that it has invited representatives from all ethnic groups to be involved in the teaser video and that the Malay culture has been highlighted in the festival ever year. 

This year, there are eight programmes by Malay groups and individuals lined up including PEON Performance by Patblas Creative, Lawatan Berpandu: Pengalaman Prangin by Moka Mocha Ink, C.O.R.E. Homegrown Concerts by Uah Music Culture and Southeast Asian Chorelab by MyDance Alliance, said GTF in its statement. 

The remaining Malay programmes include Dancing in Place by MyDance Alliance, USM fine Arts Showcase: Voyage of Discovery@GTF, 63-65: Notes from a Separation Performance Workshop by Bahri & Co and Performance: Experiment@Courtyard China House. 

Moving forward, the GTF team will continue to promote the festival as a festival that fosters the spirit of goodwill in order to create a civilised and prosperous Malaysian society, said GTF. 

GTF ended the statement with an apology for any shortcomings, difficulties, mistakes and misunderstandings that may have arisen and said that it will continue to strive to make GTF a success with humility. 

Meanwhile, project owner George Town World Heritage Incorporated (GTWHI) have also released a media statement saying that it takes the disappointment that local communities have expressed seriously. 

It added that it has advised the festival contractor, Kerson Media Global, to solve the problem as soon as possible and to increase the promotion of local programmes in the near future. 

In the same statement, GTWHI emphasised that it is steadfast in its stance to preserve the harmony and uniqueness of the multi-racial civil society in Malaysia. It added that it is committed to organising programmes that connects society and foster tolerance, understanding and appreciation for the cultural diversity that exists in Penang and Malaysia. 

A+M has reached out to Kerson Media Global for more information. 

In addition, Penang PAS information chief Muhamad Fawwaz Mohammad Jan has issued a statement voicing his disappointment over the issue and questioned if the video is an agenda to depict George Town as belonging to a "certain race." 

He also called on the state government to take action against the parties involved and asked when it will reconsider changing George Town to its original name of Tanjung Penaga as it symbolises the town's identity, not the identity given by the coloniser. 

GTF is not the only festival to have met with bumps this month.

Recently, The Good Vibes Festival (GVF), which was meant to be held on 20 July 20 2024, in Malaysia, will be a cancelled as a result of the Coronation Ceremony of His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, the 17th Yang di-Pertuan Agong of Malaysia, which will be happening on the same day. 

"As communicated by the authorities, any large-scale performances involving international artists are not to be held on 20 July 2024, and are to be rescheduled to a later date," it said in a statement. 

However, due to the nature of the GVF, which involves multiple touring acts over multiple days, rescheduling the festival is not possible.

As a result, Future Sound Asia cancelled the festival, originally scheduled for 20 and 21 July 2024.

Picture courtesy of Georgetown Festival website and Facebook. 

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