Shrewd Mind @ Work

One of the ways to achieve power is to control the option: Get others to play with the card you deal.

I feel obliged to write about Akademi Fantasia not because I am a fan of the show nor that I hate the show but I am more interested the way the show has been used as a tool to manipulate people emotions thus disarmed them completely. Most teenagers believe that the fastest and the easiest way to fame is by becoming the participants of Akademi Fantasia. Is it true? Instant fame maybe... but don't ever forget that what goes up must go down.

It is interesting to see how people wept endlessly when their favourite’s participant voted out of the show. But can anyone tell me how many Malaysian wept when a University student is being kicked-out of University due to all kind of reason? Nobody cares... my point exactly... why put so many weight and attention for the show since there are so many other issues that needs our attention. I am truly insulted to see that the participants have their own graduation day with all kind of colourful robe. Look I got nothing against the students but I can’t comprehend how the management team is allowed to use that kind of wardrobe in the show. Hmm it seems that I am moving away from my blog title.

Okay let’s get back on track.

Previously Islamic values were being put aside from the entertainment world. I still recalled vividly during AF1, in University Putra Malaysia, how the male and the female students we hugging live on ASTRO without having any sense of quit or shame! The act got some bashing from the public and was criticised in the Friday sermon. Following that, they put some restrictions to the student’s behaviour.

What happened to AF3 is totally by co-incidence. Seeing that a teenager with some Islamic background has been receiving many support from the Malaysians, ASTRO had to act quickly to capitalise on it. They were forced to bend the rules. I believes the public notices that actually they don’t have any rules they. The rules are set to change whenever they feel that the public support to the show is decreasing. ASTRO would never jeopardise the show just for the sake of maintaining the rules and regulations. That is why Linda Nanuwill managed to be reinstated to the show though was voted out earlier.

After seeing how they managed to capitalise with a students with a little bit of Islamic background, ASTRO again more or less tries the same strategy this season put banking the show on the first female contestant who wears a tudung/hijab. The purpose was ultimately to make a repeat of Mawi Phenomena or what ever they called it, but this time with a female contestant. The response was overwhelming. Let’s wait for this week first concert and see who will be topping the sms chart.
Why after three seasons the winner will always be guys? Are they that good? And why I believe this year it will be another guy if he is smart enough to garner the needed support from the viewer and steal the thunder from Salima.

Why Salima? WE must accept the fact that most voters are female teenager voters; and it is normal for female to be attracted to the opposite sex. For ASTRO to ensure that this time the winner should be a female winner something needs to be add to the female students. Salima fit into their requirement. We are going to see how ASTRO will potray Salima as someone who has an Islamic background that can clearly be seen as she is wearing tudung, as the next role model to overcome Mawi popularity. I believe she will get the attention that ASTRO wanted but then it is again up to her how she will be playing the game.

It is simple as this. It’s like 2 chess player playing a delicate game of deceive and decoy on the 64 squares. ASTRO is playing white who will make the first move and all Malaysian is playing Black waiting for white to moves and all the students were nothing more than just a chess set if not the pawns.
Who will be at the losing end? Checkmate! White Wins, Black lose, there will never draw the game. 1-0.
Unless Black checkmate White first….