We Could **** You Birch - Issues

There is 4 issues that has been stated in this drama. They are the marginalization of the English writers, gender bias, problems in the politic world and clash between modern and traditional thinking.
The marginalization of English writer
Kee Thuan Chye conveys his dissatisfaction of the freedom of writers at that time by using the actor playing Lela. In the play, the actor is reading a newspaper about a cabinet minister’s quote that is “The media must be given freedom to express opinion freely, even the right to be wrong. But if it abuses its right, then the authorities have a duty to intervene.”In 1987, three newspapers had their publishing permits withdrawn. The writer tries to show his dissatisfaction on the issue the alienation of English writer during that time.
Gender bias
He portrayed how women are treated during that time and the present time. The actor playing Lela tells his daughter, Mastura that it is the custom that women must serve their husband and nothing more than that. (pg 30). Women have their limit while talking. (pg 59) As Lela tells his daughter, Mastura that her speech is too direct. Mastura had argued with her father about the slave’s system.
Problem in the political world
The actor playing sultan reads the newspaper about the issue of political in Singapore as in 1993; an amendment to the Constitution enabled a certain politician to be appointed a Federal Minister without his having to vacate his seat as a State Assemblymen. Less than a year a Politian which his name was not stated in the play resigned his Ministerial position and left the Allies. Moreover he soon joined the Opposing Party. As a result the Opposing Party won the elections. (pg 35) This show that there are a lot of propaganda happen in the politic world as some politicians joined in not for the people’s welfare but for their own benefits.
Clash between modern thinking and traditional thinking
From the book, there is a part when Dato’ Maharaja Lela have a conversation with his daughter. For certain, this part can be seen as gender bias issues however it also can be seen as the clash between a modern and traditional thinking. His daughter, Mastura seems have a modern thinking while Dato’ Maharaja Lela seem to have a traditional thinking where they were arguing about
What Lela should do in her life? Dato’ Maharaja Lela thinks that women should get marry and fulfill her husband needs however Mastura think that women also need to get a good education and she want to go abroad and get to know the world first and she also wondered that why women cannot be a leader.(page 30 and 31).