AN exhibition of 60 photographs celebrating Malaysia’s cinematic icon, the late Tan Sri P Ramlee, is being held at Badan Warisan Malaysia’s Heritage Centre in Kuala Lumpur from 24 June to 16 July 2011. The photographs show scenes from the legendary actor-singer-composer’s films from 1949 to 1973. The exhibition, organised by publisher MPH in association […]
Nick Choo
Not race, not religion: What matters in a person?
By Nick Choo
DATUK Faridah Merican has been in the arts scene for more than 50 years and is considered a pioneer of the Malaysian theatre industry. With her husband, director Joe Hasham, the “first lady of the stage” co-founded The Actors Studio in 1989. She and Joe also head the Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPac), which […]
Hindraf and freedom of assembly
By Nick ChooThe Hindu Rights Action Force (Hindraf) rallied in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, 27 Feb 2011, to protest against the use of the novel Interlok in schools. However, the exercising of fundamental citizens’ rights in a democracy has been met with opposition, criticism and police action. Who are the people who would oppose and demonise freedom of assembly and expression?
Wanting a different Malaysia
By Nick Choo
(Updated at 2:18pm, 7 March 2011) DURING his college days at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, singer-songwriter Reza Salleh would organise open-mic gigs, where he would entertain campus crowds with his music. Moving back and forth between Melbourne and Kuala Lumpur proved to be a stepping stone for Reza in developing his craft. Today, he […]
BN and the internet: Suppression or engagement?
By Nick ChooPrime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak recently said the government would not suppress cyberspace but instead engage this global change. But how do we square his remarks with the government’s plans to extend the PPPA’s reach online, and their other verbal attacks on internet expression?
Let them eat cake!
Compiled by Nick Choo
WHILE celebrations of Merdeka Day seemed to be more muted than usual this year, conceptual artist Chi Too decided to mark the country’s independence with even less pomp and circumstance but no less significance. “It’s Merdeka, everyone wants a piece of cake” was the greeting on the Facebook page inviting Malaysians to participate in merdeka […]
The Nut Graph’s Plan B
Shape of a Pocket by Jacqueline Ann Surin
WHEN Cindy Tham and I launched The Nut Graph in August 2008, I was clear that I wanted to achieve two things. One was to create a place for independent, accountable and kick-ass journalism that was premised on the highest ethical standards in journalism. These standards included ideas, such as doing a fact and quote […]
Surprises and football inspirations
Merely Playing by Nick Choo
YOU know the old adage/cliché, “Don’t judge a book by its cover”? Here’s a prime example. In June, I joined a touring group of theatre performers from Perth, Australia to the Temple of Fine Arts in Johor Baru (JB), where we put on a show. Having been to the Temple of Fine Arts in Kuala […]
Art that entertains and educates
Merely Playing by Nick Choo
SINCE 2003, I have been involved in the Children’s Theatre course at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia. Each year, Associate Professor Dr Jenny de Reuck coordinates a unit that trains students in the various aspects of putting on a theatre production, which she also writes and directs. The objective is to teach not just […]
“Segregation drives me nuts”
By Nick Choo
FILM and television producer Lina Tan graduated with a Mass Communications degree in 1991. She has worked in production houses in Malaysia and Singapore, and has produced for, among others, the Disney Channel and AXN. In 1999, she founded Red Communications, under which she has produced and directed many local TV commercials and programmes. She talks to The Nut Graph in the Red Communications office in Petaling Jaya on 13 May 2010.
