I REFER to the report “New film classifications will reduce censorship” (NST, July 9).
I’m concerned over the stand by Malaysian Film Censorship Board chairman Mohd Zamberi Abdul Aziz. The four aspects — public security and peace, religion and socio-cultural, decency and morality — which are taken into account during a film’s certification process are too conservative. It’s paradoxical when films are used as tools for freedom of expression, while still abiding to rigid standards.
The guideline of what “could jeopardise national harmony” is also vague. Thus, anything can be deemed “controversial”. There is no research with evidence that reflects the public’s perspective of what is a “threat” to societal harmony.
For decades, filmmakers have been oppressed by what the board perceives as “sensitive”. What if these controversies and negative influences are part of history? An example is the communist movement.
The excuse of protecting children is no longer valid as there is a vast source of uncensored information on the Internet. What cannot be seen at the cinema or on television can be streamed through online film sites. Why not just progress with the times?
The negative influences such as alcohol, drugs, smoking and violence are very much a part of everyday life. Shielding youths from such issues will only make them more ignorant.
They will not know what to do when faced with these issues. They should be exposed to them in a relevant context; provoke discussions, which will benefit youths’ critical thinking skills.
The initiative to include more types of classification seems to suggest an improvement. Classifications should function as disclaimers rather than rigid guidelines imposing censorship.
Having a framework of what is acceptable and not acceptable in film limits creativity.
It is discouraging that there is such confinement towards what you can and cannot make in films. It’s sad that the authorities seem to assume that we are unable to think for ourselves.
NATALIE TAN
An aspiring filmmaker and film student, Kuala Lumpur