I refer to the Malaysiakini report Umno on road to reform, vows Najib .

Puteri Umno, in calling for the government to ban the production of ‘horror, mystical and superstitious’ movies, claims that films of this genre could weaken the faith of Muslims in the country.

The movement also wanted the authorities to issue a similar ban on all foreign movies of such genres, and also to empower the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) to take action against such productions.

Alas, this is not the first time a motion such as this has been passed. Last July, Jakim also embarked on a blitz against films that focused on horror, superstition and false traditional elements.

Then, as now, it was claimed that such films, dramas and publications were against the ‘aqidah’ (faith) of the Muslims and clearly violated the guidelines issued by the religious authority. It was also felt that the widespread screening of such movies with ghosts and supernatural elements, did not carry any positive message, but instead could destroy our faith.

They wanted film producers to concentrate on producing films of other genres that could serve as lessons, rather than making horror and superstitious films with no clear message. They wanted producers to promote interesting stories that could benefit religion, race and the country’s economy. They urged parents to provide religious education to their children to ensure a strong faith and thus avoid getting influenced by negative elements.

Now, if watching a scary movie is enough to weaken the religious faith of a person, then something is wrong somewhere.

It might be the way religion is being taught (boring teachers who lack inspiration). Or that the substance of what is being taught is deficient (teachers who are obsessed with attention to the minutiae of data, but who have little to say about its relevance to the world of today).

Or perhaps there are other factors that have to be considered (I know of one father who beats his son up for not praying, but he himself regularly gambles, and during Ramadhan, lights up unashamedly ).

So, I would hope that Puteri Umno and Jakim are not suggesting that Muslims have such a weak foundation in religion that these hapless souls will waiver and falter after seeing a scary movie. Have these institutions such a low opinion of Muslims and their faith? And what about the people of other religions? Do they consider them less infallible when it comes to horror, mystical and superstitious movies? Somehow, I don’t think so.

I don’t know what your experience of scary movies is, but the last time I watched one, I found my faith revitalised and reinforced rather than weakened, the opposite of what Jakim and Puteri Umno claim these films would do.

I believe that some children watch these horror movies as a dare – an audio-visual version of a roller-coaster ride, from the comfort of a cinema seat, or their own homes, as they guzzle their pop-corn and coke. They want to see who amongst their group of friends scares the easiest.

You could call it ‘bravado’, to see who is bravest and who is a ‘chicken’. Or if it is a couple who are in the cinema, it is of being held tight, against your partner, for that extra closeness that matters most.

And which child, or adult for that matter, is not enthralled by a good ghost story? Our culture is steeped in superstition and the supernatural. We have Puteri Gunung Ledang, Raja Bersiong, Mahsuri, the princess of Pulau Tioman, Panggau Libau, et cetera. We can’t simply, with one stroke of the pen, delete them from our heritage.

But the scariest thing is how the Puteri Umno motion was passed without debate. An important call such as this should have warranted a little more scrutiny. If the government were to accede to their request, then it is all Malaysians who will suffer. Not just Muslims.

Movies like the Harry Potter films will not be screened. ‘Lord of the Rings’, and even ‘The Wizard of Oz’ will have to be banned. And what about science-fiction films? ‘Alien’, ‘Alien vs. Predator’ etc, may be full of horror or lack unexplained traditional elements and thus will not fit with any religious teaching.

Not all ghost or supernatural stories have a bad theme. The cartoon, ‘Caspar the friendly ghost’, has entertained enough children with its moral stories. ‘Ghost’ starring the late Patrick Swayze, managed to track his killers and bring them to justice.

We are constantly being dictated by people who wish to ‘nanny’ us even to the extent of telling us what mythical stories we may or may not watch.

If films are to be banned, then the authorities need to do something urgently to regulate the silent but growing numbers of ‘bomoh’ or witch doctors who operate in the country. Their services are being patronised by both the rich and poor, religious or otherwise. These shamans constitute a bigger, more dangerous threat to religious beliefs.

The precedent of banning films of this specific genre may set an unhealthy trend. It will stifle creativity and imagination. It may stop some of us from reading books. It will smother interest, or curiosity.

And it will definitely stop us from being entertained for these films are all about entertainment. My greatest fear is that once films are banned, then a ban on the books that these films are based on may follow suit.

Right now, that is what we need the least. To find a Malaysian who reads, or reads regularly, is tricky enough. And God knows how many parents have thanked JK Rowling in making our children voluntarily pick up a book and not put it down till it is finished. Or RL Stine, Stephen King, Isaac Asimov, HG Wells, Jules Verne and Alfred Hitchcock for that matter.

So might it be films today and books tomorrow?