The home ministry has suspended the screening of a local Chinese movie, "The New Village", which was set to open in cinemas on Aug 22, pending another review by the Censorship Board.
The movie is said to promote communism.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) said the decision was made following a furore created by social media bloggers and non-governmental organisations on the movie's content.
"We have to postpone the premiere date pending another thorough look into the movie's plot,” he said today in Sungai Buloh.
The movie was to open on Aug 22,
Ahmad Zahid said the Censorship Board which is under the purview of his ministry, will also look into claims by some that the movie carries strong elements of communism.
"The board will review the plot and the hidden messages in the movie.
"The new release date will be decided once the second review is completed."
He said the ministry, however, will not hesitate to revoke the approval of the movie's screening should the film be found to be hero-worshipping the Malayan Communist Party (PKM) and humiliating the country's defence forces.
Ahmad Zahid said the Censorshhip Board received a review application from the producers on Sept 6, last year.
"It was viewed and censored by a three-men panel from the board and approved three days later."
He said a Certificate of Admittance A (permission to screen) was issued on Nov 9 last year.
The movie was rated as "Lulus Bersih" (no censorship) with a P13 classification.
"The censors felt that the scenes in the movie contained action shots which were not overdone to maintain its story flow."
Ahmad Zahid said the movie also contained impressive battle scenes between the communists and camp commanders, which was also not overdone.
He noted that reports and comments published in newspapers and blogs about the movie were done based only on the trailer of the film, which was uploaded onto the internet.
Ahmad Zahid’s decision comes following a stinging weekend piece in Mingguan Malaysia by Awang Selamat questioning how Putrajaya allowed the release of "The New Village", which it said, glorified communism.
Awang Selamat, the moniker representing the paper’s collective editorial voice, said another locally-made movie on nationalism, “Tanda Putera”, on the events surrounding the May 13 riots, had triggered widespread criticisms after snippets of the movie were leaked online
Awang Selamat, said the screening of "Tanda Putera" had been postponed three times but will open in cinemas on Aug 29.
"Tanda Putera" is about the friendship and struggles of Malaysia's second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak and his deputy Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman in dealing with the May 13 tragedy in 1969.
Several opposition politicians, particularly those from the DAP, had objected to the way the movie had portrayed the party and its then secretary-general Lim Kit Siang.
Awang Selamat further alleged that the producer of "The New Village" wanted to rewrite history by highlighting the struggles of the communists.
"The production of the film appears to be an attempt to sanction the fight of the communists, including Chin Peng."
The movie was directed by Wong Kew Lit and produced by Astro Shaw. The cast does not include any Malay or Indian artists.
The movie is centred on the Emergency in Malaya in 1949 and portrays the Parti Komunis Malaya (PKM) and the Malayan People's Anti-Japanese Army (MPAJA) as fighters for independence, said Awang Selamat.
It also showcases the actions of the British against the Chinese during the emergency. The film focuses on MPAJA, which was linked to the communist party, said Awang Selamat.
In a related development, Bernama reports the Communication and Multimedia Ministry has asked the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) to review the content of "The New Village".
Its minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek, said the move was necessary to ensure no film which adversely affects or causes negative feelings among Malaysians was screened.
"For me, if the movie promotes communism and causes racial misunderstanding, we will not hesitate to stop its screening.
"I have directed Finas to relook the film to see if there are issues which could bring undesirable consequences and we will not hesistate to take the appropriate action," he said.
Ahmad Shabery, who is Kemaman MP, was speaking to reporters after treating 120 orphans and needy children from around the Kemaman parliamentary constituency to buy Hari Raya clothes at a supermarket here.
He said Finas can ban the movie if it was proven to raise racial sentiments, but he requested people not to condemn the film based only on the trailer.
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