Guests

The Role of Cinema in Education for the Culture of Peace

Ladies and gentlemen,

It is an honour and a great pleasure for me to be able to meet all of you here in Sarajevo though time is not on my side for this trip. Also, this may not be the best of my life since I have lost person very dear to me lately, but this subject matter of this conference is so important that I must not let it go, even though many would see the subject of culture of peace as uninteresting.

I will attempt to share with you some brief culmination of my experiences and observations that I gather for the past 28 years in the film and broadcasting industries.

My interpretation of "education" towards the culture of peace is in its generic and informal meaning, not the structured institutionalized national educational endeavor.

I want to share with you this. In one late afternoon in 2002, when I was feeling down (it was mainly because of work related problems), I went up a hill in Kuala Lumpur to relax and appease myself. There I happened to sit next to a man- about 70 years old, and I fell into a conversation with him.

Soon after we felt easy on each other, I asked him why is it that there is too much anger, aggression and violence in this world lately. To cut it short, he said there are 3 basic failings that displaces peaceful equilibrium in EVERY society - (a) disease (health issue), (b) poverty (economic issue), and (c) ignorance (education issue). He said, of the three, ignorance is the greatest and most potent failing. Until today, I believed very strongly in the truth of what he told me.

I am glad the focus of our gathering here is just that-education- which. In the end, addresses the issue of ignorance. And ignorance can lead to violence.

Malaysia is a small country but with big potential. Its multiracial multiethnic population has been very successful in nurturing a stable and peaceful, life by subscribing to a few baste principles, i.e. unity and national patriotism held supreme, tolerance and understanding, concept of win-win collaboration, caring your neighbour and gradual cultural transformation. And when you look at our resource allocation, education has always been given the biggest cake.

Malaysia is strong proponent of the ideals of peace, equality and nonviolence. In support of these principles, and in conjunction with the hosting of the XIII NAM Conference, Malaysia organized the first Kula Lumpur World Film Festival, themed with the same principles, in Kual Lumpur in March 2003. Even though only 4 unbelievable weeks were given to realize it, the festival attracted participation of 48 films representing 38 countries with pomp and glory. The government has agreed that this festival is to be continued on the same theme.

There is a now a greater awareness and understanding among the younger generation about film in Malaysia than ever before. Film appreciation programmes are conducted more actively now in Kuala Lumpur by many bodies. Apart from FINAS own fortnightly film appreciation, the appreciation, there are those that organized by Kaleb Seni Filem Malaysia (Film Club of Malaysia), HELP Institute, Kuala Lumpur Film Forum, foreign embassies and others.

I find groups exposed to film appreciation programmes have a deeper understanding of the meanings brought about films. As such they are more aware of the practicality of real world limitation as opposed to "precise cause and effect outcome fantasy" brought by film -they understand the screenwriters as well as the directors creative play, the fantasy. These activities practically contribute towards promoting understanding and tolerance, and therefore, peaceful living.

Cinema going is also one of the safest form of entertainment available today. Not only does the film invigorate the mind, it also helps the audience to feel the emotions and therefore promotes deeper understanding of human's logic for actions.

It is encouraging to note that audiendce support for the local films have increased. Ten years ago, the revenue share of local films was only about 5-7% of a US45.0 million screen market, but in recent years, this has now increased to about 20%, the higest was 24% in 2003. Films produced have doubled from previous annual average of 12 titles. The fact is encouraging not only economically but it also indicates increasing appreciation of local creative works. Relatively speaking, now the works of younger people are getting more limelight, especially in 2004 and 2005 internationally as well as locally. Generally, the works are less focused on any particular race or ethnic origin as compared to those produced by the older generation. They also give a different way of presenting a film. The cinema chains, noticing the potential, also give their support to these new films.

Realizing the strategic importance of films in many ways, the government had approved the National Film Policy in February this year. The policy aims to bring the film industry development to a higher level revamping existing less relevant laws. The 6 areas focused are human resource development, infrastructure provision, marketing and promotion support, review of laws and re-structuring of FINAS. Changes will come soon this year and the next.

Malaysia has been quite successful and therefore does not have much problem in addressing the issues of health (disease) and economy (poverty). However, we are aware and sensitive about the dangers of education failure (ignorance0 because it can still rule in any country even though the country may have an increasing population with post-graduated, university or college education. Education failure will remain a potential danger to peace.

In conclusion, every level of society is duty to promote peace and its associated cultures. The cinema world is an important contributor towards influencing and shaping these cultures especially in the mind of the younger generation. In the end, the focus is towards providing greater awareness and understanding about living life fully togheter peacefully. This really means removing ignorance, end education in its informal, intimate and informal for to best to be focused at.

Finally. sir, I wish to record my appreciation to Ms. Sabiha Hadzimuratovic, the lead organizer of this conference for invitating Malysia (which led me here), also to the Malysian Embassy in Sarajevo especially to H.E. Ambassador Ramlan Ibrahim, Mr. Shazryll Zahiran, Head of Chancery, Mrs. Sarojini and Dennis for making my participation here possible. And of course to all of you leading me your ears.