Popular trends in Malaysian TV programmes: Sensational vs Responsibility

People are hungry for messages of hope and life.  What are you broadcasting?

- Morgan Brittany

AS we normally know, electronic media consists of television and radio.  The media is an instrument of broadcasting serves to convey information. 

Broadcasting media is also considered as an agent of social change whereby the media acts as pivotal role in disseminating good information and values to the public listeners and TV viewers. 

In conjunction with that, the programmes catered by the TV producers should result in heightening civic minded and inculcating healthy culture awareness and consequently contribute to the good-will of development of attitude and mental wellness of Malaysian people.

Mass media offer effective channels for communicating positive messages, which can increase the level of knowledge and influence the behaviour of the fellow audiences. 

Thus, broadcast media, remain a vital part of development and conveying messages in a form of education and information through the radio and television.  This is where the social responsibility takes place.

During the colonial period, the media had been used for different purposes. Those years preceding independence, the local media particularly print media had been used primarily in spreading nationalistic ideas and independence from colonial rule.

In Malaysia today, the media continues its operation influenced by several factors in the society which include the social, economic, and political. Offerings on radio and television are impinged upon by the multi-ethnic makeup of the society and diverse religious practices in the country.

Radio and television must cater to the needs and demands of the society in a way that do not create conflict among the diverse racial and religious groups. To facilitate that, the Ministry of Information provides guidelines to the state-owned radio and television stations requiring them to promote policies and programs of the government; foster culture and civic consciousness and determines the type of entertainment being offered.

In short, all broadcasting activities must promote Malaysian cultures and fulfil aspirations of the government. This is expected for both informational and entertainment programmes.  That was just in the past, during the early of Malaysia TV channel.

In the last three decades, the television industry has undergone tremendous changes, primarily due to various responses, demands from the viewers and the influences of international waves of cultural assimilation.  TV3 was introduced which marked the beginning of the commercial television era.

Subsequently with the government’s liberalization policy, the number of channel operators proliferated in the 1990s.  This is the era of new private stations and satellite TV are crazily competing with the mainstream media channels where marketing and sales revenue play the role; enabling profit are being prioritised and optimised, neglecting the prime purpose of social responsibility.  As a result, Malaysia are slowly being the victim of cultural imperialism. 

Era of TV Competition - Commercial Value

With the advancement of technology, satellite TV was introduced in 1996. At the turn of the millennium years, more licenses were approved to allow more private radio and television stations to operate. This provided further impetus to the growth of the local broadcasting industry. 

Yearning for profit and making it has certainly encouraged greater competition among different television stations for audience share to secure advertising revenues and eventually maximizing profit to survive in the industry.

While the media have concerns over the media pie, the government on the other hand is concerned about how best for the ruling elite to retain their status quo, and this is invariably done by setting parameters that would allow only “safe media products” in a robust broadcast industry. 

Here comes the media censorship, classification of programme by Lembaga Penapis Filem (LPF) and gatekeepers in doing their task by following procedures and regulations in ensuring the content of the TV programmes or movie is acceptable for Malaysian viewers before giving the consent to be shown on the TV station.

In fact, the owner of the TV stations and the Malaysian TV programmes' producers are facing dilemma where they are competing with each other in striking more rating of the TV viewers. 

The phenomenal that we Malaysian audiences are being served with numerous delicacies of entertainment, reality TV, comedies, horror and light talk show that merely focus on entertaining, gossips of the artiste either actor or singer instead of boosting educative and informative information that can enlighten and transform the mind of the audiences into a greater level. 

This is contrary to government's channels TV 1 that has abundant of proportionate programmes not only entertaining but also play their social responsibility to educate the viewers by airing educational programmes such as documentaries, forum, live talk show on politic, social, economy and religious sphere that discussed and expose on pertinent current issues at large.

Most of the private media agencies are interested in making profit through media business conglomerates. Currently about 90% of these TV station programmes are more towards hedonism cultures that is purely entertainment and little effort is been done on inserting the essence of national integration or nation building. 

Something to ponder, are we Malaysian are truly hunger being fed with entertainment, reality TV shows, parodies, and sensational gossip mongers programmes such as Melodi, Meletop, Hip TV and others. 

It is a huge debatable issue where the content of the Melodi and Meletop are controversial and expose the sensationalism, scandal or mis-hap, bad conduct of the artistes openly. 

It disturbs the mind of the audiences as it degrades and cause quarrels among the artiste involved in the issue aired on TV. 

In fact, this is a saddening scenario as Malaysia, we are living in a melting pot multi-racial society where it is very important to have programmes that have cultural or history values which can escalate the level of knowledge, nurturing patriotism, instilling the spirit of dignity, sense of togetherness that not only integrate, harmonise, and unite the Malaysian citizens despite of different races, culture and religions but also be proud to be a Malaysian. 

Hype of Malaysian TV programmes

There is a time where Malaysian are being catered by variety of Western and Asian drama’s theme from Indonesia, Thailand, Philippine, Latin American telenovelas and Korea soap operas. 

These dramas were extensively imported because of the interesting storyline, the feel of cultural proximity and seem to be popular in the Asian region. Many of these dramas provide non-contentious themes such as lovers, romance, fantasies, conflict of families, corruption, business heir, cliché storyline, tragedies of the rags to riches and others.  Strangely, it is acceptable by Malaysian though some of it are against our norms and cultures. 

Nevertheless, the popularity is undeniable and it is hugely seen as part and parcel of life.  Things to muse about, where is our culture origins? Are we simply accepting being colonialised and being imperialised by the Western or foreign cultures, thus diminishing our Malaysian norms, beliefs, cultures, and values.  

Now the question lies where is the censorship board or the gatekeepers of the TV station? This matter should be taken seriously as it will shape and mould the mind of our young generations.

Amazingly, most of the Malaysian TV station are competing with one another in airing TV soap opera or multi episode dramas that has the cliché or melodrama themes with a package of beautiful cinematography closely linked to the Korean, Indonesian, Philippine values of ‘everlasting love’, ‘old-fashioned cliché romance’, ‘male chivalry’ and ‘filial piety’ that obviously we Malaysia can guess what is the climax and the typical ending of the stories. 

It is far difference from the TV drama on 70's or 80's where the quality of the content or storyline are far more dramatic and magnificent to be watched.  Now, the storyline is lighter, has the element of comedy and some carries horror, fantasies, crime, violence and sexual innuendos that are unsuitable for the young audiences and certainly oppose to the Malaysian cultures.

Astonishingly, we can see the Malaysian producers are competing in producing extreme content that has violence, gory acts, crime stories and brutality that can influence the viewers’ mind to imitate in their real lives.

For instance, the serial drama Juvana, One Cent Thief, Projek: High Council, Forensik and others. It caused a shocking and big dismay to the Malaysian society as the TV stations and producers are neglecting their responsibility instead they should be more sensitive, aware and alert on the feeling of the audiences as the drama encompass not only for the watch of young viewers but also from all walks of life that range from the family, teenagers and young children. 

Devastatingly, we truly have lost our own identity, our battle to stand on our forefront in keeping our own norms, beliefs where some of the TV stations and producers are greedily sacrificing the traditional Asian traits and religious values as most of the TV programmes are imitating the foreigners and adopt the values of liberalism and secularism cultures that totally contradicts the Asian norms and values thus, casting extreme social taboos, bad vibes and moral decadence profusely among the Malaysians and the young generations.

The Flood of Malaysian TV producers and directors producing variety content

As we can see nowadays there are many talented senior and young TV producers and directors such as Michael Ang, Bernard Chauly, Ghaz Abu Bakar, Azma Aizaal Yusoof, Ayie Mustafa, Alvin Chong, Erma Fatima, Ahmad Idham, Khabir Bhatia, Khir Rahman, Osman Ali, and others are speedily producing dramas and films to be shown in cinemas and TV. 

Some of the TV producers and directors are being so insensitive of Malaysian Eastern culture as there are actions where the actor and actresses are cuddling each other or hugging on bed, explicit scenes to show how romantic they are being a couple or husband and wife only on that TV drama series. 

Not to mention some of the dramas are degrading the actresses be it free hair or wearing hijab by asking them to wear scantily dress, acting vigorous intimacy which is inappropriate to be aired on TV, that not only alarmed the Malaysian society but also brought huge mocking, critics, debates among the viewers and the netizens. 

Basically, the actors or actresses should be sensible as they have their rights or stand to object what had been asked, they shouldn't be a parrot to follow what had been directed by the director of the drama or film.

Some of the TV drama producers and film directors are running out of new ideas, these eventually make them simply find an exit way to adapt the stories from the Malay novels of greatest sellers and untold Malaysian True stories.  Hence, it becomes a huge trend of the current Malaysian dramas.

These Malaysian TV drama producers should think out of the box by having brilliant idea and creatively carving their talents by "answering the call of doing social responsibility".  The dramas or storyboard should convey and portraying strong fruitful positive and good vibes of Malaysian cultures and identity instead of being a follower of the West or other Asian dramas that has cliché elements. 

The ugliest part is the title of the dramas are not that catchy simply comical and absurd, Just to name a few of the title of local Malaysian dramas and films,  Kimchi untuk awak, M.A.I.D, Rindu awak 200%, Isteri Separuh Masa, Suami Sebelah Rumah,Suri Hati Mr. Pilot, Playboy itu Suami Aku, Awak Sangat Nakal, Girlfriend Aku Dari Neraka, Budak Tebing, Menanti  Februari, Misteri Wan Peah, Kekasihku Seru, You Saka...Pergi Jauh-jauh, Hantu Kak Limah, Bini-Bini ku Gengster, Adnan Semp-it,  Cikgu Nerd and others.

It is vital for the producers and directors to gain more exposure and knowledge in developing the flow of producing quality storyline so as to explore and penetrate beneath the mind of Malaysian audiences so that the content of the drama or film is far beyond frontier not merely on commercial value but also consist of deep meaning, inculcating moral values, unifying different race, cultures and cultivating meaningful messages in the hearts of Malaysian such as the work of our legendary Tan Sri P. Ramlee, Tan Sri Jins Shamsuddin and the late Yasmin Ahmad.

Hence, it is time for every TV station in Malaysia either mainstream channels or private stations work hand in hand brainstorming creatively in ensuring a quality content or programmes that can bring greater height by injecting positive norms, religious and values for the Malaysian society. 

For that matter, social responsibility should be in the first place fundamentally in the right corner of their mind instead of thinking solely on making profit maximisation or commercial value. 

Well, as the saying goes, a little thought and a little kindness of social responsibility are more worth than a great deal of money that eventually leads to disaster if it is not being taken care properly.  Behold the future of young generations and Malaysian is not to be put at stake. - DagangNews.com

DISCLAIMER :  The opinions expressed within the content are solely the author's and do not reflect the opinions and beliefs of the DagangNews.com editorial.