Interview Transcripts

Interviewer: Mr. Brian Goh Law Wen (G4.6)

Interviewee: Mr. S.Rajanthiran A. Shanmugam (Lecturer, Ketua Unit Psikologi dan Kaunseling
IPG Ilmu Khas)

1. Good morning lecturer. Can you briefly tell us your name, your primary language,
beliefs, and some customs and rituals that you practice?

My name is Mr Rajan. I’m an Indian and my mother tongue is tamil language. I celebrate Indian
culture festivals like Thaipusam, Deepavali, Pongal. I believe in Shiva (God).

2. We are highly influenced by the culture of foreign country such as Korea, Thailand,
Japan because our society likes to watch dramas from these countries. Do you agree?

Yes I agree. Nowadays many foreign movies are being introduced in the theatre and also the
family television programmes like Korean drama, Chinese drama, Indonesian drama and
others. I think the people like them very much.

3. Do you watch these dramas? Do you think it affects your language, beliefs, customs
and rituals?

Yes. As an Indian, I love to watch Chinese(foreign) drama. I love to learn new Chinese words
from the drama so that I can use it to communicate with my Chinese friends. They love seeing
me speaking their language and I think in a way it helps to bridge the communication gap
between us as it makes communication becomes more interesting. Like for instance I use
“loh…meh…” with the Chinese to get closer with them. Generally, I like localized language
(generated from the fusion of various languages) like Manglish(Malaysian English) as it makes
Malaysian more Malaysian.

I suppose when I watch these movies, it brings all good values to me. And I think in a way it
helps us to understand other culture.

4. What negative effects do you think will emerge if you let your children watch foreign
dramas? Do you think it affects their language, beliefs, or customs and rituals?

Yes, if I have children, I will let them watch foreign dramas. To a certain extent, everything that
we do will produce positive and negative effects. Let’s talk about positive first. I will let them
watch those movies for the sake of expose, so that children have wider worldview. I would
encourage them to focus on the values while watching. Children can take these dramas as
entertainment but do not make it into habits that destroy their own values.

The negative effect could be these dramas may not portray the right image to our children
especially the kind of attire that actors and actresses wear might be too revealing or
fashionable. For example, Malaysians always like the kpop songs. The clothing that the kpop
girl’s band and also the oppas wear are not culturally same with us. These clothes are too
revealing(for girls). School children should be cautious of what they wear.

5. Do you think these dramas influence the national identity of these school children?

I think that they have some effects but not until losing their identity. If you look at Tahun
Melawat Malaysia 2020 advertisement, they(performers) are not doing traditional dance per
say. They infuse many things inside but at the same time maintaining the tradition part. It does
not lose the originality and identity but it helps enriching it.

6. Do you think the influence of foreign culture will last? What can the parents do to
help?

The influence wont last. It will go as time go. These foreign dramas could not give threat to
destroying our culture. Our children are just “experimenting” and wonder about the practices
they watch in the drama and they will forget as time passes. In a way, the locals can be very
creative in combining foreign elements and the traditional performances. For instance, the
musicians can use musical instrument from another country to compose the same beautiful
country folk song.

Parents should do something about it like accompany children while watching drama content,
restricting their children’s screen time, and constantly involve children in all sort of festivals
celebrated by the ethnicity.