The Malaysian Insight

FILMMAKERS fear the Terengganu government’s move to ban the screening of the film “Pulau” will open the way for more productions under the Mandatory Screening Scheme to be blocked by the state.

Their concern is that other films in the scheme will also face the same fate due to the conflict between existing laws and the state government.

Film Producers Association secretary Zahrin Azis said the state government has no right to interfere or block any film that passes the Film Censorship Board (LPF).

“Especially if the film is under the Mandatory Screening Scheme,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

The ban on Pulau was brought up when the producer of the film Fred Chong said his film was banned in Terengganu on the grounds that it contained outrageous scenes.

Chong said the ban on the film, which had already been screened nationwide on March 9, will cause them huge losses.

The film’s trailer allegedly featured female characters in bikinis as well as intimate scenes between the characters.

LPF had said the film was pornographic and the trailer uploaded to social media was not the same as the film submitted for censorship.

Zahrin said the restrictions by the Terengganu government are excessive and he does not see any action being taken by the National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (Finas).

“What is happening now is a conflict of power between the Federal and state government and this will affect the country’s film industry,” he said.

He said cinema operators are required to show films under the Mandatory Screening Scheme within 14 days, regardless of whether they are popular.

The scheme empowers the Mandatory Screening Scheme committee to consider and accept local films or joint ventures for compulsory screening in cinemas.

It is in line with the regulations of the National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (Mandatory Screening Scheme) 2005 which came into force on 23 June 2005.

“Under the Mandatory Screening Scheme it is indeed an offense if the operator does not screen the film.

“But so far we have not seen any action by Finas or discussions with the state government on the ban,” he said.

He added that operators should be subject to action in accordance with the Finas Act 1981 in addition to the Film Censorship Act 2002.

Terengganu Menteri Besar Ahmad Samsuri Mokhtar refused to budge even though the state government was willing to meet with the film producers.

Samsuri said the film was banned based on the trailer which was allegedly against Islam and Malaysian culture.

Zahrin said they are concerned this action will set a precedent for other films if this issue is not immediately addressed by Finas.

He said Finas should resolve the situation by holding discussions with the state government.

Zahrin said the state government should know how to respect the law and not interfere because it only invites confusion and brings problems to the industry.

“We have to respect the law.  We already have other laws related to film production and there is also film censorship so others should not interfere.

“If other parties interfere, then which laws do we follow.

“It will also scare away investors. So it’s really difficult for us,” he said.

Director and screenwriter Al Jafree Md Yusof said films that have already been approved by the LPF should be shown anywhere in Malaysia.

This, he said, was because the film censorship law is already subject to the LPF and it has been the guideline for film producers and directors all this while.

“LPF is a guide for us, for any film. I sent my own film to LPF and got approval for viewing by 18 years and over.

“We don’t want to have a filter for each state. I don’t agree with this decision.

“If (Terengganu) can’t accept the LPF decision then we don’t know whose decision we need to follow. This means that LPF conditions do not carry any weight,” said the director of the film Dukun.

He is also worried that the state government will abuse their power and ban any film they don’t like, especially local films.

“Our local film industry is currently in the recovery phase.

“If this kind of action continues, how will the local film industry grow,” he said. – March 12, 2023.