The entertainment industry in Malaysia tends to focus primarily on Malay talent. While there are rising non-Malay celebrities, those who gain significant recognition are typically the ones who speak fluent Bahasa Melayu and embrace Malaysia’s diverse culture.
Chinese entertainers who succeed in the Malay showbiz are celebrated for their appreciation of another culture and their ability to connect with a broader audience. Prominent figures such as Dr. Soo Wincci and internet personality Ceddy Ang have shared their experiences of being non-Bumiputeras in the industry.
In a recent episode of “Take Ceddy Out,” a seasonal TikTok show hosted by Ceddy, both he and Dr. Soo Wincci discussed their experiences with fasting, which played a key role in their breakthrough in the Malay entertainment scene. Dr. Soo Wincci shared that she started fasting over 10 years ago as part of her effort to break into the market, after gaining recognition from her appearance on MasterChef Malaysia.
Ceddy then asked Wincci if she had ever been called “Zŏugŏu,” meaning “traitor,” by the Chinese community for not supporting her own race. Ceddy admitted that he had been labelled as such, saying, “I entered the Malay market to please the masses, but my initial support came from the Malay community.” Wincci responded that during her time, she didn’t face much negativity because people understood that breaking into the Malay scene wasn’t easy.
Ceddy also mentioned how some Chinese entertainers attempt to do break into the Malay entertainment world but struggle to sustain their success. Wincci pointed out that a key reason for this is the failure to master Bahasa Melayu and truly understand Malay culture. She shared, “It’s the same when I went to Taiwan and Spain. I had to go very low, because even for (Malaysian) Chinese entering the China or Taiwan market, it’s very different due to cultural differences.”
Netizens were highly impressed by the duo’s honest conversation and felt inspired by Wincci’s advice. Many also praised Ceddy for producing such a knowledgeable and insightful interview. Meanwhile, some commented on how long it had been since they last saw the female entertainer, expressing excitement for her anticipated appearance.
Watch the full video here:
@ceddyornot Take Ceddy Out S04E02 – @Dr Soo Wincci 📍 OMG Crab, The LINC KL Halal status: NO Halal certification No pork no lard was was don’t come
Source: TikTok
Alia contributed to this article.
