NILAI, Dec 26 — Creative industry practitioners in the country are reminded to always check the guidelines set by the relevant authorities prior to creating any work to steer clear of sensitive issues, particularly those related to religion.
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr. Zulkifli Hasan said this measure aims to avoid confusion and discord among the public when a piece of work is presented.
“At the ministry level, we oversee and facilitate awareness. We also have several guidelines that serve as a reference for everyone, ensuring that any material from external sources is approved and does not touch on sensitivities.
“We will also continue to monitor and take proactive action to ensure that what is presented to the public is constructive and adheres to regulations,” he said after the launch of the Cultural Arts Performance Guideline Book at Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM) here today.
He said this in light of an incident where a cinema released an official poster for a horror film displaying the Arabic word ‘Allah’ on a black cloth wrapped around a woman perceived to be possessed.
The National Film Development Corporation (Finas) reportedly instructed the said cinema, serving as the film distributor for the Indonesian production, to withdraw and modify the poster.
Earlier, Zulkifli expressed confidence that the guidelines within the book will not curtail freedom, particularly for students in the field of arts, as it is aimed to foster good character and empower individuals. — Bernama
