M'sia says S'pore drama depicts them negatively as scam centre base, writer says there's no ill intention

A Singapore TV series has been accused of marring Malaysia's image by portraying the country as a base for scam centres.

The screenwriter and director, however, have responded that this was not their intention at all.

"Highway to Somewhere", a Mandarin Mediacorp drama that aired from Mar. 9 to Apr. 7, follows two road trips to Malaysia.

In one, a group of four friends fall victim to a scam syndicate.

The drama was filmed over two months in Malaysia, with locations including Ipoh, Kukup, and Port Dickson, according to CNA.

The portrayal of Malaysia

Some Chinese associations in Malaysia recently raised concerns that the way the country was depicted in the drama may be misleading and may give foreigners a bad impression of Malaysia.

The chairman of the Malaysian Chinese Culture and Trade Association said that while the drama showcased many attractions in Malaysia, it also portrayed the country as a scam centre.

"This seriously damages the image of Malaysia, and can affect our country's culture and tourism," he said, as quoted by Sinchew.

The president of the Malaysia Professional Skill Development Education Association echoed his sentiments.

He said that the show has damaged the reputation of Malaysia's education and the international image of the country, Sinchew reported.

He called for the relevant authorities in Singapore to pay attention to the issue and consider suspending the broadcast as soon as possible.

The writer's response

In response to criticism, screenwriter Ang Eng Tee explained that he wanted to explore the topic of scams in the drama because he had read several news reports about scam syndicates specifically targeting people in Singapore and Malaysia.

"Scams do not only happen in Malaysia," he told Shin Min Daily News. "It also happens in Singapore and many other places."

He pointed out that in the drama, the heads of the scam syndicates came from abroad and entered Malaysia in disguise.

The storyline also had a positive conclusion, he added. The criminals ultimately did not escape punishment and were arrested by the police.

"My hope is for this drama to serve as a reminder that scams are becoming more and more rampant, and everyone must be cautious no matter which country you travel to."

Highlighted Malaysia's beauty

Director Oh Liang Cai also pointed out that the storyline about the scam syndicate was only a minor part of the whole drama.

Among the aims of the drama was to show viewers the beauty of Malaysia, especially the lesser-known scenic areas, he told Shin Min.

"We filmed Malaysia beautifully, and never had the intention to portray the country as a scam centre," Ang said.

He added that the drama had led many of his friends to realise there were many beautiful places in Malaysia they had not known about, and made plans to take a road trip to visit the featured spots.

Regarding the two Malaysian association leaders' call for action, Ang said he believes that the relevant authorities will work to further understand the whole story.

As for viewers, he hoped that they would give the drama a chance and watch it until the end before forming their judgment.

Top images from Mediacorp's website and Facebook