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Borneo Post
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
Borneo.TV faces more backlash from Sabah artists
Atama KOTA KINABALU (July 4): The launch of on July 1 by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor at Menara Kinabalu, has deeply disappointed Borneo's indigenous communities and cultural workers, including the Sabah Film and Visual Association (SAFVA). 'For years, the state has neglected the cultural rights of indigenous artists, singers, and songwriters, leaving their creative economies and heritage unsupported. This secretive agreement between the SMJ Secretariat and Kuala Lumpur-based IB Media Consultant Sdn Bhd is seen as another betrayal of Sabah and Borneo's cultural intellectual property and creative integrity. They didn't care then, and they don't care now,' said Atama Katama, Sabah's renowned Sumazau Hip-Hop artist and the world's first KadazanDusun-English rapper. The issue surfaced when the Sabah Maju Jaya (SMJ) Secretariat and IB Media Consultant Sdn Bhd signed a deal and hurriedly launched Sabah's television channel, This move violates UNESCO's 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions, which mandates safeguarding cultural diversity, and it disregards the Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) under Article 32 of the UNDRIP (2007). 'I fully endorse Sabah Film and Visual Association's (SAFVA) opposition to the lack of consultation, and we, as Borneans, especially cultural workers, must resist this erosion of our identity to end all forms of cultural exploitation. 'I know SAFVA is correct to oppose this,' said Atama, the 2011 Choons Malaysia Best MC. Atama, now a senior Indigenous Peoples Rights Representative at the United Nations, claims that the use of 'Borneo' in a platform owned by Dato' Hajji Izlan Basar, CEO of Al Hijrah, raises serious concerns about cultural appropriation. Another Sabah-born national artist, Yee I-Lan, warned on her Facebook on Thursday: ' owned by a non-Bornean Malayan religious content figure with limited media experience, smacks of neo-colonialism. Adat and budaya under MA63 are state matters.' The absence of indigenous consultation further breaches UNESCO's inclusive representation principles. Similarly, the Borneo Native Festival (BNF), held annually 2,000 miles from Borneo, misrepresents the island's culture. Sarawak's Peter John Jaban, founder of GOASS cultural creative, said, 'Millions of ringgit in MOTAC (Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture) funds support the Borneo Native Festival in Kuala Lumpur, implying East Malaysians lack the capacity to organize it locally.' He cited SUKASENI, a KL-based organizer that gained 'popularity' after showcasing Borneo's authentic traditional garments. The Edge of the World actor continued, 'We came to boost BNF with our Borneo spirit, with GOASS boarding AirAsia flights in our 'sirat' traditional garments. These self-funded travels to Kuala Lumpur received minimal support, just a bus ride from airport to hotel. This reflects tokenism that undermines local expertise and romanticizes Borneo's nativity in KL.' In subsequent years, BNF held a pop-up event in Sabah but failed to acknowledge GOASS, Jaban noted. 'They didn't even contact us when they came to our own land. Instead, they had foreigners dressed as us to represent us. With experiences like this, how can we trust those who fail to appreciate us?' The CEO's dual role as owner of and Al Hijrah raises concerns about the marginalization of non-Muslim narratives across Borneo. The SMJ Secretariat's public claim that operates without state funding heightens suspicions of double standards and lack of oversight, as it pre-relinquishes responsibility for protecting Sabah's cultural assets and forms, which will be controlled and peddled by and its clientele. 'This thoughtlessness reflects incompetent state advisors and rent-seeking executives, making the Sabah Chief Minister, a former radio announcer, look utterly compromised. 'Our cultural heritage, arts, traditions and indigenous identities is sacred and must not be exploited, particularly for religious purposes. This breach of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), which ensures cultural autonomy, demands urgent action,' Atama stated. Atama calls for: 1. Immediate intervention by the Sabah State Ministry to uphold cultural rights; 2. Full FPIC and consultation with indigenous creative artisans, alongside meaningful dialogue with local creatives; 3. The SMJ Secretariat to publish its policy on cultural appropriation and restrict the company from misusing the term 'Borneo.'
Daily Express
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Express
Borneo.TV draws more concern from Sabah creatives
Published on: Thursday, July 03, 2025 Published on: Thu, Jul 03, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: Several indigenous cultural advocates and Sabah-based creatives have echoed Sabah Film and Visual Association's (Safva) concerns over the launch of The new digital streaming platform was launched on Tuesday by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, through a deal between the SMJ Secretariat and Kuala Lumpur-based IB Media Consultant Sdn Bhd. Advertisement Indigenous artist-activist Atama Katama ( pic ), on Thursday, criticised the move as another example of cultural exploitation without consultation with local stakeholders. He claimed that the initiative failed to uphold the principles of Unesco's 2005 Convention on Cultural Diversity and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Atama, who serves as a UN Indigenous Peoples Rights Representative, also warned of the misuse of the term 'Borneo' by outsiders. He also called out the platform's ownership by non-Bornean Datuk Izlan Basar, as culturally insensitive and inappropriate. Sabahan national artist Yee I-Lan echoed these sentiments, describing the initiative as a form of 'neo-colonialism' in a public Facebook post. Safva president Chester Pang had previously said local creatives were not consulted and urged greater transparency on policies and selection criteria. He welcomed the idea of a Sabah streaming platform but stressed the importance of involving homegrown talent and institutions. Atama and Safva have called for state intervention, formal consultation mechanisms, and a review of the agreement. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Malaysia accused of failing MA63 and indigenous rights
Published on: Saturday, May 17, 2025 Published on: Sat, May 17, 2025 Text Size: Indigenous leader Dato' Petinggi Andrew Ambrose Atama Katama has accused the Malaysian government of failing to uphold the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) and violating the rights of indigenous peoples in Sabah and Sarawak. Speaking on behalf of Defenders of Ancestral Lands Sabah (Mopot), Atama condemned decades of unfulfilled promises, including equitable revenue-sharing, land rights, and political representation. Advertisement He highlighted that Sabah and Sarawak continue to suffer high poverty rates, 25.3pc and 12.9pc respectively, despite being resource-rich. 'The federal government has sidelined East Malaysia, eroding our constitutional rights and violating international commitments under the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples,' he said. Atama also criticised the misuse of Article 153 of the Federal Constitution, which he claims has been manipulated to favour Peninsular Malay interests at the expense of Bornean natives. Ahead of Malaysia's 2025 Voluntary National Review (VNR) at the United Nations, Mopot is calling for international scrutiny, demanding answers on land rights, revenue distribution, and access to basic services for indigenous communities. Advertisement 'Without restoring MA63 and indigenous rights, Malaysia's development claims remain a facade,' Atama said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
