Latest news with #SabahFilmandVisualAssociation
Borneo Post
4 days ago
- 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
5 days ago
- 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
6 days ago
- Business
- Daily Express
Sabah creatives left out of Borneo.TV planning: Safva
Published on: Wednesday, July 02, 2025 Published on: Wed, Jul 02, 2025 Text Size: KOTA KINABALU: The sudden launch of Sabah's new digital streaming platform has drawn concern from local creatives who said they were not consulted ahead of the move. Sabah Film and Visual Association (Safva) President Chester Pang ( pic ) welcomed the initiative but said the lack of prior engagement with key industry stakeholders was disappointing. He said this absence of consultation risked sidelining experienced local content creators and undermining long-standing efforts toward a transparent and inclusive creative ecosystem in Sabah. In an open letter to Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor, Pang requested clarity on policies for local producers, content selection guidelines, and official channels for communication with the industry. Safva, which represents Sabah at the national level through the Malaysian Film Association Coalition (Gafema), has worked with agencies such as Finas and RTM to promote the State's creative sector. Pang said Safva remained committed to supporting Sabah's digital creative development and stood ready to collaborate on future content initiatives. Launched by Hajiji on Tuesday, is positioned as a platform to showcase authentic Sabah content to the world, with the tagline 'Sabah in the Eyes of the World.' * 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
Borneo Post
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Borneo Post
SAFVA urges inclusion and transparency in Borneo.TV rollout
Chester Pang KOTA KINABALU (July 2): The launch of the digital streaming platform by IB Media Consultant Sdn Bhd on Tuesday has taken many in Sabah's creative community by surprise. While recognizing this initiative as a positive step toward expanding access to Sabah and Borneo-related content through digital platforms, its abrupt announcement however has left local content industry players feeling both excluded and disheartened, said Sabah Film and Visual Association (SAFVA) president Chester Pang. He said there was no prior engagement, consultation, or preliminary study with key industry stakeholders — those who have long worked toward a structured, transparent and inclusive creative ecosystem in Sabah. 'This lack of initial dialogue has created a perception that local creatives and industry players are being sidelined — as though their experience, insight, and contributions are not valued in the development of this important state-level initiative,' he said in an open letter to the Sabah Chief Minister. As this is not a political or election-related initiative, SAFVA respectfully seeks clarification on the following: What are the policies and procedures for local producers to participate in content ecosystem? What technical guidelines and content selection criteria will be used? What official channels will be established for communication between the platform operator and Sabah's creative industry stakeholders? SAFVA is a member of the Gabungan Persatuan Perfileman Malaysia (GAFEMA) and represents Sabah at the national level. It has actively collaborated with agencies such as FINAS, RTM and other stakeholders to ensure that Sabah remains part of Malaysia's digital creative advancement. 'We sincerely hope that going forward, initiatives like will actively involve Sabah's creative stakeholders — including producers, screenwriters and digital content creators — in shaping and curating content that reflects our unique identity and potential,' said Pang. He added SAFVA remains committed to supporting the digitalization of local content in alignment with the state's creative economic development aspirations. 'We are ready and willing to collaborate constructively in this effort.' Sabah has taken a bold step in the digital broadcasting landscape with the official launch of a new streaming platform dedicated to showcasing the state's voices, faces and cultural narratives to a global audience. Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Hajiji Noor, who officiated the launch at Menara Kinabalu on Tuesday, described the initiative as more than just a media platform, but calling it a 'stage for Sabahans to shape the state's image through their own narrative.' Carrying the tagline 'Sabah in the Eyes of the World', aims to become a primary channel for authentic content from original documentaries and cultural showcases to the breathtaking landscapes of Sabah, delivered through a modern, flexible and global digital approach. Hajiji said the launch was timely as society increasingly shifts from traditional to on-demand digital media consumption, adding that offers local content creators a chance to reach beyond conventional boundaries.
