Trying Times in Chow Kit
The news from neighboring Malaysia has not been pleasant of late. A border dispute caused both sides to put their battleships on alert, followed by a furor over a cultural heritage. Today, migrant workers are causing political tension between our two ethnically similar societies. And why are Malaysian militia members targeting Indonesians visiting their country?
October 23, 2007
CAK Kartolo’s distinct voice could be heard coming out of an electronics store in Chow Kit, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Scores of people had gathered to hear this East Javanese folk comedian tell his jokes, occasionally laughing during the show. The crowd broke up when the Surabaya skit was replaced by the singing of rocker Nicky Astria.
Cak Kartolo, a performer from Surabaya, East Java, no longer performs in Malaysia. Nicky, the singer from Bandu
...