We too open to foreign music imports, says Farouk Bunkface
KUALA LUMPUR – Farouk Jaafar, lead vocalist of the Malaysian rock band Bunkface, said on 12 October that most Malaysians “over‑value” Indonesian music and musicians, to the detriment of local talent. He warned that the…
Source: Utusan Malaysia · October 12, 2026 at 2:30 AM · AI-assisted report
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KLANG, SELANGOR, 12 OCTOBER 2026 —
KUALA LUMPUR – Farouk Jaafar, lead vocalist of the Malaysian rock band Bunkface, said on 12 October that most Malaysians “over‑value” Indonesian music and musicians, to the detriment of local talent.
Market Impact
He warned that the openness of the public to foreign music is not matched by the support given to Malaysian artists who wish to expand abroad.
In a media briefing held at the launch of Arieva Event Space in Klang, Selangor, Jaafar said the bias against local musicians has been a long‑standing problem. “They are biased against our musicians,” he said. “It has been happening to all Malaysian musicians for a long time.” He added that breaking into foreign markets requires money and is not an easy task, yet Malaysians continue to embrace foreign music.
“It is a choice,” he said, “but we must support local music, it represents our identity.”
Jaafar said the recent tensions between Malaysian and Indonesian netizens had inadvertently raised awareness of Malaysian music. He urged continued support for local products, saying, “As Malaysians, support local music. If you do not support local music, how can we survive, move forward and go further?” He concluded that the industry would die without sustained backing.
The remarks came as Bunkface celebrated the opening of a new event venue in Klang. The band has long been a prominent name in Malaysia’s alternative music scene, and Jaafar’s comments highlight the perceived imbalance between domestic and foreign music consumption.
The statement was made during a press conference organised by the venue’s owners. No other parties were quoted in the briefing.
The comments are likely to resonate with Malaysian audiences who have expressed frustration over the dominance of Indonesian pop and rock in local charts. The band’s call for greater domestic support follows a broader conversation about cultural identity and the sustainability of the Malaysian music industry.
The next step for Bunkface, according to Jaafar, is to continue advocating for local artists and to encourage the public to attend domestic concerts and purchase local recordings. The band’s message is that without such support, the local music scene will struggle to survive.
Related: Arieva Event Space · Farouk Jaafar · Klang, Selangor