Malaysia Government Sponsors Outdoor Movies in Rural Villages

Malaysia's Information Ministry announced in 2008 that it would re-introduce the wayang pacak -- free outdoor film shows that were popular in the 1970s and early 1980s as a way to bring information and entertainment to rural and suburban communities. Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the program was scrapped in the mid-1980s because it could not compete with television and newspapers, but that free film shows could be made relevant again with innovative approaches.

“The ministry treats the free film shows as an effective tool for the rural villagers to obtain valuable information on government policies,” Ahmad said. Screenings would include movies, cartoons, and footage of national development. “It's a well-known fact that wayang pacak was in the olden days an avenue for the people to interact and catch up with each other.”