The Kuala Lumpur City Hall's decision to impose guidelines for the arts fraternity is akin to 'breast feeding' the artistes in the country, said social reform movement Aliran today.

The Penang-based movement complained that stringent measures such as censorship would stifle creativity and artistic freedom.

"It is also downright patronising and insulting of City Hall to dictate what should and should not be made in a script.

"A City Hall censored play would amount to a theatre of the absurd - next to which a school play would seem like a cultural paradise," it said in a statement.

Aliran also stressed if the liberty to stage political satires is shackled, then the country will only have plays similar to what was staged in the Soviet Union which glorified leaders and the party in power.

BN directive?

The movement also asked if the guidelines, which it termed "as another form of thought control", is the brainchild of City Hall or Barisan Nasional.

"After all, aren't these councillors appointed by the BN to do, as some would claim, their dirty job?"

"Such a scenario doesn't do justice to the government's endeavour to attract more tourists and to project Kuala Lumpur as a vibrant cultural city," it added.

Aliran also noted that the recent development is in breach of Mayor Mohamad Said Mohd Taufek's earlier promise of political liberalisation and artistic freedom.

City Hall's revelation that it would scrutinise scripts in future in order to shield Malaysians from 'sensitive elements' raised the ire of artistes and concerned groups.

Mohamad Said had stated scripts would have to be submitted 14 days before a play is staged and if 'sensitive elements' are found, changes would be ordered, failing which, a permit would be denied.

The relationship between City Hall and the performing arts fraternity has been on rocky ground following the controversy over a recent play called Bolehwood

, which lampooned politicians.