DAP Seputeh MP Teresa Kok today expressed her disappointment with the government's decision to restrict the screening of Hollywood blockbuster 'Passion of the Christ' to Christians only.

In parliament on Tuesday, Kok had asked the Home Affairs Ministry if the film had been banned.

In a written reply, the ministry said that the film was approved for screening at designated cinemas and limited to movie-goers who are Christian.

"Such an answer is contradictory to the policy of the government which claims to promote racial and religious tolerance and contradicts Article 11 of the Federal Constitution of Malaysia," lamented Kok in a statement today.

She then questioned if there will be a government policy to disallow people of other faiths to enjoy movies depicting a particular religion.

"Does it mean that the government is going to implement a policy where movies concerning Islam or Islamic figures in history could only be allowed to be watched by Muslims?" asked Kok.

Mutual understanding

"Isn't this regulation against the spirit of a multi-racial society where mutual understanding of each other's belief and religion is most needed to promote unity among the people in the country?"

Additionally, Kok said that in the past, movies such as 'Little Buddha' and 'Seven Years in Tibet' which were based on Buddhist elements were not banned.

"Another movie, 'Jesus of Nazareth' was also screened some decades back. As such, why is the Home Ministry now adopting such a retrogressive stance of restricting the screening of 'Passion of the Christ'?" said Kok

Kok added that she has thus far no knowledge of the movie having being screened at all anywhere in the country.

She had also urged the Home Affairs Ministry to review its stance on the movie and allow it to be freely screened nationwide, and likewise for other movies portraying other religious figures.

"Let the people enjoy the freedom to watch any movie of their choice. The government should stop practising unnecessary censorship and treating the people like children, otherwise this can only undermine efforts of the government to ban pirated VCDs in Malaysia," the MP said.

Strict laws

Malaysia has strict censorship laws and has in the past been quick to ban or cut films deemed sensitive or sexy, including "Schindler's List," "The Hours" and animated musical "Prince of Egypt."

A total of 1,582 foreign films had been banned between 2000 and May 2004, the home ministry said in a written reply to Kok.

The Mel Gibson film has been criticised for alleged anti-Semitism - which Gibson denies - and violence, but has been a box office success.

Other Islamic countries have been divided about the film: Iran, Oman and Qatar have approved it while Bahrain has banned it.