Home Civil Society Voices Hentikan serangan ke atas Mentega Terbang (Malay/English)

Hentikan serangan ke atas Mentega Terbang (Malay/English)

TERRY PAPOULIAS/PIXABAY

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{ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Melihat kepada kontroversi baru-baru ini yang menyelubungi filem Mentega Terbang, kami, yang bertandatangan di bawah, menyeru kerajaan untuk memastikan keselamatan pembikin filem dan artis sentiasa dilindungi untuk mereka meneruskan karya mereka.

Kerajaan perlu memastikan kandungan kreatif yang dianggap menyinggung oleh segelintir individu dan kumpulan tertentu mesti dikendalikan secara bebas, profesional dan telus untuk melindungi kebebasan kreativiti artis dan juga kanak-kanak bawah umur.

Kami berpendirian bahawa penyelesaian jangka panjang tidak terletak pada penapisan filem yang lebih ketat, atau pelaksanaan hukuman terhadap penggiat seni dan bukan sama sekali dengan memberi kuasa kepada penasihat agama ke atas kandungan kreatif.

Kini, kerajaan dijangka akan campur tangan akibat rungutan yang diperbesarkan (secara organik atau disusun) melalui media sosial dan laporan polis.

Perkembangan terkini dalam kes Mentega Terbang, menurut laporan berita, ialah pembikin filem itu mungkin disiasat di bawah Seksyen 298A dan Seksyen 505(b) Kanun Keseksaan dan Seksyen 233 Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia 1998.

Penggunaan undang-undang ini menyatakan secara tidak langsung bahawa pembikin filem Mentega Terbang sengaja mencetuskan ketidakharmonian dalam negara.

Sebaliknya, tiada penyiasatan dijalankan terhadap ancaman fizikal dan gangguan seksual yang dilontarkan oleh pengguna media sosial kepada pembikin dan penerbit filem Mentega Terbang.

Keadaan di mana tiada tindakan diambil terhadap pengguna media sosial tersebut memberi mesej bahawa ancaman keganasan boleh diterima jika seseorang berasa tersinggung. Ini mewujudkan budaya takut yang membahayakan pembikin filem dan artis.

Maklum balas kerajaan setakat ini akan memberi kesan yang menakutkan kepada filem dan industri kreatif Malaysia. Ia akan menghalang pembikin filem dan pencipta kandungan kreatif daripada menghasilkan kandungan kritikal yang sangat diperlukan yang mewakili realiti kehidupan kita yang beragam.

READ MORE:  Jewish tenured professor fired over tweet, Palestine documentary banned by Israel

Jika kita mahu menuju ke Malaysia Madani, maka kita perlu mewujudkan persekitaran yang memupuk kepelbagaian sudut pandangan, perdebatan yang sihat, penglibatan yang penuh hormat, dan semangat kreativiti dan inovasi tanpa rasa takut – pembikinan filem dan seni adalah penting untuk ini.

Sumber dan tenaga harus disalurkan ke dalam literasi media dan membina Malaysia Madani di mana orang dewasa didedahkan, didorong dan diperkasa untuk mengawal kendiri dan membuat keputusan berdasarkan klasifikasi dan citarasa, nilai dan prinsip masing-masing.

Kritikan dan pandangan balas terhadap mana-mana kandungan kreatif harus dibenarkan dalam masyarakat demokratik dengan syarat ia dinyatakan dalam cara yang aman dan tidak berunsur keganasan.

Kita tidak boleh membenarkan ugutan, ancaman dan budaya ketakutan yang diamalkan oleh kumpulan tertentu untuk menyekat kebebasan bersuara dan menggugat kenikmatan semua hak dan sistem demokrasi kami. Sebarang sekatan terhadap kebebasan bersuara mestilah sah, perlu dan setimpal dengan bahaya yang ditimbulkan.

English version

Witch hunt on Mentega Terbang must stop

In light of the recent controversy surrounding the film Mentega Terbang, we, the undersigned, call on the government to ensure a safe environment for filmmakers and artists to practise their craft.

Creative content deemed offensive by certain individuals and groups must be handled in an independent, professional and transparent manner, protecting both the creative freedoms of artists and vulnerable minors.

We believe the long-term solution does not lie in tightening censorship, pursuing punitive measures or allowing religious advisers to decide what is acceptable or unacceptable creative content.

At present, grievances are channelled and amplified (organic or coordinated) through social media and police reports, and the government is expected to step in.

READ MORE:  Jewish tenured professor fired over tweet, Palestine documentary banned by Israel

The most recent development in this case, according to news reports, is that the filmmakers may be investigated under Section 298A and Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

The use of these laws imply that the filmmakers have intentionally incited disharmony in the country.

Conversely, there is no investigation into the threats of physical violence and sexual harassment that have been unleashed on the filmmakers and producers of Mentega Terbang.

In effect, this inaction sends the message that threats of violence are acceptable if one feels offended. This creates a culture of fear that endangers filmmakers and artists.

The government’s response so far will have a chilling effect on the Malaysian film and creative industry. It will discourage filmmakers and content creators from producing much-needed critical content that is representative of our diverse realities.

If we are to move towards Malaysia Madani (a civil Malaysia), then we need to create an environment that fosters a diversity of viewpoints, healthy debate, respectful engagement, and a spirit of creativity and innovation without fear – filmmaking and the arts are vital to this.

Resources and energy should be channelled into media literacy and building a Malaysia Madani where adults are exposed, encouraged and empowered to self-regulate and make informed decisions based on classifications and their own respective tastes, values and principles.

Criticisms of and counter-perspectives to any content should be allowed in a democratic society as long as it is expressed in a non-violent and peaceful manner.

We must not allow intimidation, threats and a culture of fear perpetuated by particular groups to silence freedom of expression and undermine the enjoyment of all our rights and the practice of democracy.

READ MORE:  Jewish tenured professor fired over tweet, Palestine documentary banned by Israel

Any restrictions to our freedom of expression must be legitimate, necessary and proportionate to the harm.

Signed by/Ditandatangani oleh:

  1. Aliran
  2. Amnesty International Malaysia
  3. Azmyl Yunor, singer songwriter and academician
  4. Association of Women Lawyers (AWL)
  5. Brian Gomez, writer and musician
  6. Beyond Borders
  7. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
  8. Chi Too, arts worker
  9. Faisal Tehrani, writer
  10. Five Arts Centre
  11. Freedom Film Network
  12. Gerak (Pergerakan Tenaga Akademik Malaysia)
  13. Iedil Dzuhrie Alaudin, actor
  14. Iman Research
  15. Jurnal Svara
  16. Justice for Sisters
  17. Pusat Komas
  18. Kuman Pictures
  19. Kryss Network
  20. Loo Hong Chuang, academician
  21. Lostgens’ Contemporary Artspace
  22. Mahi Ramakrishan, documentary filmmaker
  23. Mini Film Festival
  24. Manamana Productions
  25. Malaysia Muda
  26. Nadira Ilana, filmmaker
  27. Nandita Solomon, film producer
  28. PEN Malaysia
  29. ReformARTsi
  30. SeaShorts Film Festival
  31. Siring Siring Production
  32. Sisters In Islam
  33. Suaram
  34. The Instant Cafe Theatre Company
  35. Youth of Malaysia
  36. Yow Chong Lee, academician
  37. Farah Rani, actor
  38. Shamaine Othman, writer
  39. Waroeng Baru
  40. Yeoh Lian Heng, artist and curator
  41. Zaharom Nain, academician
  42. Zarul Albakri, producer
The views expressed in Aliran's media statements and the NGO statements we have endorsed reflect Aliran's official stand. Views and opinions expressed in other pieces published here do not necessarily reflect Aliran's official position.

AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
  1. Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
  2. Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
  3. Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
  4. Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
  5. Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
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