Cinemas in Penang may have to screen Tanda Putera after all despite complying with the state government's advisory that it should not be shown because of the sensitive nature of the film.

NONE Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the controversial movie by director Shuhaimi Baba will hit cinemas in Penang starting tomorrow, which is National Day.

The movie is supposed to be based on the lives of former prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein and his deputy Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman, including historical facts surrounding the May 13 racial riots.

In his latest Facebook status, Ahmad Shabery said that the Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (Finas) had been asked to ensure that the movie is screened in cinemas in the state as scheduled.

This is despite the advisory issued by the Penang (MPPP) and Seberang Perai (MPSP) municipal councils yesterday to local cinema operators - Golden Screen Cinema, TGV Cinema and Lotus Five Star -  not screen the movie, which all have complied.

The local councils acted on a directive by the Penang government on Wednesday, asking them to issue the advisory to the cinemas, citing threats to national harmony and "lies" depicted in several scenes as reason for not screening the movie which opened nationwide yesterday.

However, Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who issued the advisory said no action would be taken against the cinemas if they failed to comply with his request.

But Ahmad Shabbery said: "Maybe the people's demand and anger have caused the cinema operators to receive a new letter, an 'advisory', instead of an 'order'."

He added that those who felt that there were "slanderous scenes that could provoke racial hatred" in the movie, as claimed by Lim, could lodge a report with the police and the Film Censorship Board.

- Bernama

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