We, the undersigned, are writing this statement in response to the recent charges brought against Mohd Khairi Anwar Jailani and Tan Meng Kheng, whose recent film Mentega Terbang, has ignited a conversation around religious issues.
It is disheartening to learn that they are facing charges of “wounding religious feelings”, as it goes against the fundamental principles of creative and artistic freedom.
Art has long been a powerful medium for exploring and understanding various facets of our society, including religious beliefs. Artists, through their work, have the ability to provoke thought, challenge norms, and encourage dialogue.
The imposition of legal charges against them not only stifles creative expression but also sets a dangerous precedent that threatens the very essence of freedom.
Personal thoughts and expression are a cornerstone of democratic societies, providing individuals the right to express their ideas, beliefs and perspectives. Artistic creations, in particular, play a crucial role in fostering diversity of thought and promoting understanding among different communities.
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It is through the exploration of diverse themes, even those that touch on sensitive topics like religion, that societies grow and evolve.
It is imperative to recognise that filmmakers, like all artists, should not bear the responsibility of ensuring their work does not offend or challenge the sensibilities of their audience.
Watching films is a voluntary act, and audiences, in turn, should exercise their own discretion when choosing what to engage with. Just as literature, visual art, and music have done throughout history, films have the power to evoke a range of emotions and opinions, and it is the responsibility of the audience to interpret and respond in a manner that is civil and within the boundaries of what is ethical and just.
If, as a society, we value freedom that has long been fought for by our forefathers, it is essential to emphasise the importance of individual agency and the autonomy of the audience.
Rather than imposing restrictions on artistic expression, we should encourage open and constructive dialogue, allowing individuals to engage with diverse perspectives and make informed choices about the media they consume.
As a community that champions creative and artistic freedom, we must stand united in condemning any attempts to place undue restrictions on filmmakers or any artists.
Let us celebrate the power of art to challenge, inspire and provoke thoughtful reflection, trusting in the capacity of audiences to navigate the complex landscape of creative expression with their own discernment.
We urge authorities to reconsider these charges and recognise the importance of fostering an environment that nurtures artistic freedom. Let us embrace the power of art to challenge, inspire and ultimately, unite us in our shared humanity.
Badrul Hisham Ismail, film director
Endorsed by:
- A Samad Hassan, head of operations, KLPost
- A Ahmad, writer, editor
- Abdul Shakir, digital artist
- Adam Jay (Titikmerah Collective)
- Adam Zainal, film director
- Adeleena Lim, trauma therapist
- Adriana Nordin Manan, playwright, writer
- Agilan Sethu, line producer
- Aina Marlisa, writer (Sinema Awan Mendung)
- Al Jafre, film director, scriptwriter
- Alena Nadia, journalist
- Ali Alasri, artist
- Alina Wong, writer, director
- Aliran (Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara)
- Alison Khor, arts practitioner
- Amalia S, film event organiser (Indonesia)
- Amanda Nell Eu, filmmaker
- Amir Muhammad, writer, publisher, filmmaker
- Amy Len, dance artist (Kwang Tung Dance Company)
- Amy Lim, producer
- Ananth Subramaniam, film director
- Angelina Marilyn Bok, film producer (Singapore)
- Anis Majida, Producer, writer
- Anne James, actress, educator (Five Arts Centre)
- Anwar Johari Ho, filmmaker (Zi An Pictures)
- Arief Hamizan, theatre practitioner
- Arts-ED (Persatuan Pendidikan Seni Pulau Pinang)
- Azmyl Yunor, singer-songwriter, educator
- Bea Tanaka @ Tan Chooi Bea, producer
- Bernadette Anne Carpio, actor
- Beverly Yong, arts worker (RogueArt)
- Boyz Chew, artistic director (Orang Orang Drum Theatre)
- Chacko Vadaketh, actor, host, voiceover, artist
- Chandrawati Abdullah, producer
- Chen Yoke Pin, arts and cultural worker
- Chew Kinwah, actor
- Cheyenne Tan, director, producer
- Chi Too, Arts worker
- Chia Chee Sum, filmmaker
- Chloe Yap Mun Ee, filmmaker, video artist
- Choo Mun Bel, film producer
- Chua Jing Xuan, filmmaker
- Dabble Dabble Jer Collective
- Dain Said, film director
- Danny Lim, writer, journalist
- Dato’ Dr Faridah Merican, co-founder, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)
- Dato’ Zahim Albakri, actor, director of films and theatre
- Deena Dakshini, filmmaker
- Dhinesha Karthigesu, artistic director (Theatresauce)
- Diffan Norman, producer, writer, director
- Dr Fiona Lee, academic
- Eddie Wong, artist, filmmaker
- Eleanor Teh Zi Xian, producer
- Elise Shick, producer
- Elroi Yee, journalist
- Emily Thomas, (ReformARTsi)
- Ezrena Marwan, cultural worker
- Faiq Syazwan Kuhiri, arts pracitioner (Five Arts Centre)
- Fairuz Sulaiman, artist (Sekolah Main Wayang)
- Fara Omar, producer
- Farah Rani, actor
- Feisal Azizuddin, filmmaker
- Five Arts Centre
- Foo Fei Ling, producer
- Foo May Lyn, art maker
- Freedom Film Network
- Gan Siong King, visual artist
- Gogularaajan Rajendran, filmmaker
- Goh Lee Kwang, artist
- Grace Ng, actress
- Gunung Cherita
- Hadi M Nor, scriptwriter
- Hariati Azizan, journalist
- Ho Lee Ching, theatre practitioner
- Hoe Hui Ting, company manager (Five Arts Centre)
- Hoo Fan Chon, visual artist
- Ian Yee, Journalist
- In Between Cultura
- Instant Cafe Theatre
- Ista Kyra, writer, editor and co-founder (Eksentrika)
- Ivy Josiah, women’s rights advocate, producer (Five Arts Centre)
- Jean Chang, producer
- Jefry Musa, filmmaker
- Jen Nee Lim, writer, director (Singapore)
- Jentayu
- Jillian Ooi, gamelan musician (Rhythm in Bronze)
- Jo Kukathas, theatre maker
- Joanna Lee, producer
- Joe Hasham, co-founder, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (klpac)
- Juliet Jacobs, journalist
- Junad M. Nor, director
- June Tan, scriptwriter
- Justin Ong, director
- Kakiseni
- Kalash Nanda Kumar, film critic, journalist
- Kamini Senthilathiban, artist (LexisNexis)
- Kee Thuan Chye, actor, dramatist
- Keenen Yong, lecturer
- Kelvin Wong, theatre director (Theatresauce)
- Ken Kin, filmmaker
- Kenneth Wong, founder, People Ideas Culture
- Khairun Lamb, director of photography
- Kiew Suet Kim, theatre practitioner
- Koh Aun Qi, producer
- Komfit
- KongsiKL
- Kubhaer Jethwani, filmmaker (Five Arts Centre)
- Lau Kek Huat, filmmaker
- Lau Kok Rui, film director
- Laura Low, filmmaker
- Lee Ren Xin, performance maker
- Lee Yve Vonn, producer
- Lena Srinivasan, filmmaker
- Leong Siew Hong, scriptwriter, director
- Leow Puay Tin, playwright
- Lian Kian Lek, creative (Nowhere Kitchen)
- Liew Seng Tat, filmmaker
- Liishvaar Jagathes Kumar, filmmaker
- Lim Boon Siang, screenwriter
- Lim Chung Wei, drama teacher (Trio Drama Academy)
- Lim Han Loong, filmmaker
- Lim Kok Yoong, academician, artist
- Lim Ying Xian, producer
- Lina Teoh, documentary producer
- Ling Tang, artist, producer
- Loganathan Kanabathy, actor, editor, writer, director
- Loh Jo Yee, producer
- Low Pey Sien, cultural worker
- Luvenia Kalia, dancer
- Mah Jun Yi, producer
- Mahen Bala, filmmaker
- Mahi Ramakrishnan, documentary filmmaker
- Marion F D’Cruz, performance maker, educator (Five Arts Centre)
- Mark Teh, performance maker (Five Arts Centre)
- Martin Vengadesan, associate editor (Malaysiakini)
- Mary Grace Liew, filmmaker (Foreground Pictures)
- Mee Quin, filmmaker
- Meshalini Muniandy, theatre worker
- Mickey Lai, filmmaker
- Miriam Devaprasana, writer
- Mogan Selvakannu, documentary filmmaker
- MoOne Drama
- Muqri Azlan, filmmaker
- Nadira Ilana, filmmaker
- Nadirah Zakariya, visual artist
- Namron, Actor, director
- Nandita Solomon, film worker
- Noor Anwar Hadi Noor Azman, scriptwriter
- Nora Nabila, filmmaker
- Nur Amalia Mohd Azmi, producer
- Octo, artist
- Okui Lala, arts and culture worker
- Omar Ali, arts practitioner
- Othman Hafsham, director
- Persatuan Penulis Berbilang Bahasa (PEN Malaysia)
- Peta Khan, producer, Maitree House
- Philip Chai, theatre practitioner
- Pun Kai Loon, artistic director
- Rachel Yeoh, writer
- Rafidah Abdullah, scriptwriter
- Rahmah Pauzi, filmmaker
- Raja Adam Iskandar, filmmaker (Arja Films)
- Ravi Navaratnam (Five Arts Centre)
- Razlan Saharudin, producer (Denhouse)
- ReformARTsi
- Riani Singgih, producer (Indonesia)
- Rimbun Dahan
- Roshan Ravi, producer
- Rosheen Fatima Mutalip, arts practitioner
- Rupa Subramaniam, artist, organiser
- Saidah Rastam, artist
- Seksan, landscape architect
- Shamaine Othman, writer, comedian
- Shamila Othman, PR manager
- Shamyl Othman, director
- Shaq Koyok, Artist, activist
- Sharmilla Ganesan, culture writer and critic
- Sharon Chin, artist
- Sharon Chong, video editor
- Shawna Scully, drama student
- Sheau Yun, writer
- Sherman Ong, filmmaker, visual artist
- Shufitri Mohd Shukardi, performer, visual artist
- Shufiyan Shukor, video producer
- Simon Soon, academic
- Siring Siring Production
- Sofea Izrin Lee, writer
- Soh Chong Hong (CloudJoi)
- Stagebox Ventures
- Suhaila Merican (Five Arts Centre)
- Sukhbir Cheema, writer and co-founder (Eksentrika)
- Sunitha Janamohanan, arts manager, educator
- Susie Kukathas, producer
- Suzanne Ong, scriptwriter
- Svara
- Syalikh Nazrul, filmmaker
- Taha Long, filmmaker (Tapir Studio)
- Tan Bee Hung, dance practitioner
- Tan Cher Kian, producer
- Teck Tan, producer, director (Spinning Gasing)
- Teo Wey Yinn, filmmaker, composer
- Terence Toh, author, writer
- The Cooler Lumpur Festival
- Theatresauce
- Thiyagu Govindan, filmmaker
- Umi Salwana Omar, director
- Usen Leong, senior lecturer (NEUC)
- Uthaya Sankar SB, writer, researcher
- Wyn Hee, Theatre Producer (Stagebox Ventures)
- Yap Sau Bin, visual arts curator
- Yasu Tanaka, director, writer
- Yati Kaprawi, artist, documentary filmmaker
- Yee Heng Yeh, writer
- Yong Keenen, lecturer (MMU)
- Zan Azlee, documentary filmmaker
- Zarul Al Bakri, producer
- Zyee Leow, performer (Orang Orang Drum Theatre）
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