Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng has explained that the request for cinemas in Penang not to screen Tanda Putera is not a ban but more like a "travel advisory".

In a press statement today, he said: "The request is not a ban and no action would be taken against any cinema operators in Penang who continue to screen Tanda Putera."

NONE "Just like any travel advisory issued by the government for the safety of citizens travelling in strife-torn countries, this advisory is issued to cinema operators to highlight to the public the dangerous lies in the film that can threaten national and racial unity in the country.

“Just as no action is taken against citizens who risk their personal safety by ignoring such travel advisories, no action would be taken against cinema operators who ignore the state government’s advisory,” he added.

Lim went on to state that the advisory was issued because the film had crossed a red line in promoting racial hatred.  

"The Penang state government has taken this step to issue an advisory because the film has crossed a red line, in using public funds to propagate lies that promote hatred instead of racial harmony," he added.

Yesterday, the Penang state government asked cinemas across the state not to show the film, a move which drew widespread criticism.

Meanwhile, New Straits Times today reported that as a local film Tanda Putera was categorised as a “must screen film” under the guidelines of the National Film Development Corporation (Finas).

NST quoted an un-named spokesperson for a cinema owner saying that if they did not show the film for at least one week, as per the guidelines, they might have their licences revoked.

"All local movies must be screened. We cannot take instructions from anyone, including the state government, on this matter," the spokesperson reportedly said.

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