Charter2000-Aliran is totally dumbfounded by the authorities’ decision to ban director Amir Muhammad’s latest movie ‘The Last Communist’.
The unfortunate ban comes in spite of the approval given by the Film Censorship Board, a body entrusted by the government to monitor and censor films. It doesn’t reflect well on the government, which has failed to honour the decision and discretion of the Film Censorship Board. After all, the Board is the creation of the government, and the people who sit on it are people who are well aware of the government’s sensitivities. Does this decision further reinforce the government’s recent ruling that there should be no voting according to conscience?
What is equally appalling is that the ban was apparently triggered by unjustified criticism by a newspaper writer and certain individuals whom the newspaper had interviewed about the movie. This vociferous lot had not even seen the movie but that did not stop them from criticising it. What is the basis for their criticism? Amir revealed that there was no interview with Chin Peng; neither did the movie carry any image of him. Clearly, the ban hasn’t got a leg to stand on.
The decision is not only unjust but also baffling if one considers that Chin Peng’s own book, recounting in detail the Communist Party’s struggle, is easily available in many bookstores in the country and is apparently selling well. Certainly, the book has not prompted right-minded Malaysians to run amok or to embrace communism or to champion communist ideology. So, what is the government’s reason for acting irrationally?
We call upon the authorities to lift this unfair and undemocratic ban, which reflects poorly on the nation and its people, who have to suffer this insolence.
Dr Mustafa K Anuar and Anil Netto
Joint coordinators
Charter 2000-Aliran
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