PAS Youth has lashed out at the Film Censorship Board (LPF) and the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) for overlooking what the wing described was a “clear” case of insult to Islam by producers of the recent local film ‘Hantu Bonceng’.

According to PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan, it has been disappointing to witness the lack of initiative by the LPF and Finas, which come under the Home Ministry and the Information, Communication and Culture Ministry, respectively, despite complaints by many quarters about the film.

hantu bonceng the movie “PAS’ Youth wing questions why there is a censorship board or a ‘Finas’ when films that are to be played to the general public contain such elements as this?

“What have they been censoring all this time? What filters are they using? Filters for their tea? To sieve the ‘cendol’? Are the holes in the sieve so big that even things that are eyesores and disturb the people’s sensitivities are allowed to go through?” asked the Islamist leader.

Nasrudin was commenting on recently-released movie ‘Hantu Bonceng’, directed by Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nazri and starring Mohd Razizan Abdul Razak (‘Zizan RL’).  

According to Nasrudin, one scene in the movie sees Zizan ( below ) declaring “Asyhadu anna Muhammad Syaitan” (I declare that Muhammad is Satan).

hantu bonceng the movie “The declaration of Islam is not a statement that can be the butt of jokes or the subject of puns, for it impinges upon the state of one’s faith, even if it was only an act.

 

“Such a film that is screened to the general public can lead to confusion and a misrepresentation of Islam. It is even more risky when it can affect the faith of the general public,” said Nasrudin.

Criticising also the religious authorities such as the Islamic Development Board (Jakim), Nasrudin asked what point there was for such an agency to exist when it does nothing in the face of such occurrences and the existence of blogs that insult Islam and its laws.

 

He cited also the continued screening of television and cable films and programmes containing elements of superstition and nonsense.

“What has happened? Do the religious authorities not realise such things happening? If ordinary persons know these things are happening, how can the religious authorities not be aware?” Nasrudin ( below ) asked.

NONE He said Finas and LPF should set up an authoritative ‘syariah panel’ of experts that would vet through any films having anything to do with Islam. He also asked that film producers, actors and broadcasters refer to religious scholars and bodies such as Jakim when coming out with a film.

“Don’t wait until a controversy has blown up, and only then you start looking for the ulama to wash your hands of your responsibility,” Nasrudin urged.

He called only for guidelines to be drawn up based on Islam for both locally-produced and foreign films that may have an impact on the moral, ethics, thought and cultures of society.

May the nation’s film industry progress and spread throughout the world and bring up the country’s name without recourse to obscene, insulting and superstitious elements that violate religion and morals, said Nasrudin.