Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak just cannot please everyone.

After announcing that his ministry had decided to open the Best Film Award category at the Malaysia Film Festival (FFM) for all film industry players and the creation of a new category, Best Film in the National Language, Salleh was lambasted for doing so.

In an article published on pro-Umno website MyKMU.net, the writer said the new category was nothing but an insult to film producers who came out with Bahasa Malaysia works.

“Creating a special category for films in the national language shows how Salleh is of the opinion that such films do not have the same quality as non-Bahasa Malaysia films.

“What if a film in the national language were to win the Best Film Award? Is the Best Film in the National Language category still relevant?”

The writer, therefore, wondered whether there were already plans to ensure popular, local film ‘Ola Bola’ wins the Best Film award.

“Films in the national language don’t need such insults. Film producers in the national language are not afraid to compete with non-Bahasa Malaysia films.”

Citing secondary categories in other countries such as the ‘Best Film in Foreign Language’ category, the writer said it is the opposite in Malaysia in which the Best Film in the National Language category is secondary.

“If you don’t want to safeguard the importance of the national language, don’t insult it. Probably this minister’s mind has become unsound.”

Salleh today said that the decision to welcome the participation of all films in the Best Film Award category and the introduction of the Best Film in the National Language category, was made after taking into account the views and suggestions of all parties.

“We are always willing to hear grouses from the industry players and at the same time, we don't neglect our responsibility of empowering Bahasa Malaysia as the national language," said Salleh in a statement today.

Prior to this, various quarters had criticised the segregation of films according to language in the film festival set to be held in September.

Local films ‘Ola Bola’ and ‘Jagat’ were disqualified from winning the best film category in the FFM.

The two films were not nominated for ‘best film’ because the dialogue was not fully in Bahasa Malaysia, and were thus nominated for 'Best Non-Bahasa Malaysia Film' instead.