Bersih has urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to put an end to "closed screenings" of controversial film ‘ Tanda Putera '.

NONE Its steering committee member Maria Chin Abdullah ( left ) said by saying nothing, the PM is seen to be allowing such private screenings of the Suhaimi Baba-directed movie depicting the race riots of May 13, 1969.

"I sincerely hope he stops the airing of the film.

"If need be, screen the movie for all Malaysians so that it can be judged by the public," she said when contacted by Malaysiakini yesterday.

Meanwhile, she dismissed the recent criticism leveled against the electoral reform pressure group by a senior officer with Najib, following the screening of ‘ Tanda Putera ' at Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) last weekend.

In fact, Maria could only laugh when asked about the allegations, claiming that Bersih was out to "vilify the country" and bring in western elements were nothing but a joke.

This is because, she said, everyone is aware that Bersih is only out to seek clean and fair elections and that fact is supported by the rakyat without involving any overseas party.

"I say again, Bersih has the full support of Malaysians. This is because when we gather, it is not foreigners who come and join us.

"The public judge us based on our actions. Our actions and stance all this while have been close to the hearts of the rakyat," she said.

UIA students ‘won't be swayed'

Maria is confident that UIA students would not be swayed by the officer's "baseless" claims.

Malaysiakini had yesterday tried to contact the officer concerned but has yet to receive a response.

On Tuesday, student group We Unite For Islam (Wufi) president Mohd Najib Abdul Rahim said that after the two-hour long screening , the officer presented a 45-minute 'review' to more than 400 students in which the latter proceeded to chastise Bersih and Malaysiakini .

"He said foreign agents like Bersih and Malaysiakini have come to Malaysia to vilify the country," Mohd Najib claimed.

He added that the film review session also centred on racial lines and felt the movie would stir unease among the public if aired.

NONE The historical film revolves around second PM Abdul Razak Hussein ( wearing sunglasses, in front ) and his deputy Ismail Abdul Rahman and their effort to pull the country together after the May 13 riots.

Aside UIA, some 3,000 Felda settlers were treated to a closed-door screening at the Putra World Trade Centre with former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad last month, while a planned screening by Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) last November was cancelled and replaced with a discourse on the movie instead.

These are despite the cabinet declaring the movie not appropriate for public screening last November.

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