Chinese name 紀傳財 (traditional) Spouse Lim Choy Wan Role Actor | Name Kee Chye Chinese name 纪传财 (simplified) | |
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Occupation Journalist, editor, author, playwright, actor, and civil liberty advocate Movies Anna and the King, Sell Out!, 1957: Hati Malaya Children Jebat Arjuna Kee Jia Liang, Soraya Sunitra Kee Xiang Yin Books We Could [kill] You Mr. Birch, 1984 Here & Now Similar People | ||
The ivygram with kee thuan chye
Kee Thuan Chye (born 25 May 1954; aged 63) is a Malaysian actor, dramatist, poet and journalist. Acting in theatre, films, and on television for more than 30 years, he continues to do so. In 1981, Kee co-founded the theatre group, KAMI, in Kuala Lumpur. A noted civil rights activist, he would express in his plays whatever he could not express through the newspapers under Malaysia's repressive Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA). For speaking out without fear or favour, Kee was among the first recipients of The Annexe Heroes Freedom of Expression Awards when it was launched in 2008. In 2010, he was also voted the 34th Most Trusted Malaysian in a poll conducted by Reader's Digest.
Contents
- The ivygram with kee thuan chye
- Kee thuan chye unbelievably stupid unbelievably stupid too
- Civil rights advocacy
- Television
- Plays
- Scriptwriting for television
- Major book publications
- References
Although social reengineering under the New Economic Policy had already begun after the 13 May Incident of 1969, it became more pronounced after Mahathir bin Mohamad became Prime Minister in 1981. At the New Straits Times, Kee Thuan Chye received numerous memos from his editor-in-chief for trying to push the parameters and opening up public discourse on what was deemed 'sensitive' issues. Firmly believing that the responsibility of a journalist to the public is to inform them of the truth, he had to battle with his superiors and as a consequence, he was often punished, marginalised, and shut out. In 1988, Kee received his master's degree in drama from the University of Essex, after being awarded a British Council Fellowship for postgraduate studies in England.
In 2001, Kee Thuan Chye became the Associate Editor of The Star in Kuala Lumpur, creating and editing the English column, Mind Our English, until retirement in May 2009. His Sunday Star column, Playing The Fool, which he began in April 2001, ran for only two instalments before it was cancelled. In his inaugural article, Kee had written that he would be speaking out frankly on social and political issues, without fear or favour. His second article, hitting out at racial discrimination in Malaysia, was published but when it came to his third article, the editors got jittery and suppressed it. The Star finally decided to terminate the column after Kee submitted his fourth article.
Kee thuan chye unbelievably stupid unbelievably stupid too
Civil rights advocacy
Kee Thuan Chye's political awakening began when he could not afford to pursue his master's degree unless he had a tutor's position. He applied for the post at Universiti Sains Malaysia, his alma mater, and although he was the top student in his class, the job was given to someone else. Kee then joined the now-defunct National Echo as a literary editor where he wrote scathingly about political matters. Moving from Penang to Kuala Lumpur to join the New Straits Times in the late 1970s, he saw more clearly how race had been politicised to divide the people. Mahathir Mohamad who had become the Prime Minister in 1981 was becoming increasingly dictatorial and would tolerate no criticism of him and his government in the media.
What Kee Thuan Chye could not express through the newspaper, he eventually expressed in his plays. 1984 Here and Now which spoke out frankly against Big Brother and institutionalised racial discrimination, played to full houses in 1985, followed, amongst others, by The Big Purge which brazenly satirises Mahathir and Operation Lalang.
In the aftermath of the 2008 general elections, Kee Thuan Chye rushed out his book 8 March: The Day Malaysia Woke Up in a record three months, due to the topicality of the subject matter. This was followed by 8 March: Time for Real Change in 2010. For speaking out without fear or favour, Kee was among the first recipients of The Annexe Heroes Freedom of Expression Awards when it was launched by The Annexe Gallery at Central Market in Kuala Lumpur in 2008 to recognise Malaysians who have done outstanding work in championing freedom of expression in the previous year. In 2010, he was also voted the 34th Most Trusted Malaysian in a poll conducted by Reader's Digest.
Television
Kee Thuan Chye has appeared in more than 20 television dramas, including but not limited to:
Plays
Kee Thuan Chye has written, directed, and acted in numerous plays, including but not limited to:
Scriptwriting for television
Major book publications
Apart from publishing numerous articles, Kee Thuan Chye has authored several books, including: