The controversial film ‘Tanda Putera' was never banned and it was the government who had decided to delay the film to after the general election for fear that it would lose Chinese support, said Suaram adviser Kua Kia Soong.

"The film which was financed by Malaysian taxpayers through the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) was never banned by the censorship board.

"It was strategically withheld by the powers-that-be in Umno because they thought that after the storm of outrage from the public, they did not want to risk losing votes in the 13th general election," he said in a press statement today.

NONE He was referring to Umno Youth's complaint that ‘Tanda Putera' was subjected to repeated delays but the latest film ‘The New Village' appeared to have been given a free ride.

The Malay-language ‘Tanda Putera' had been criticised over its portrayal of the May 13, 1969 riots while the Chinese-language ‘The New Village' had been criticised for allegedly glorifying communism.

"'Tanda Putera' was never given a rough ride at all in the first place. It was voluntarily withheld by the Umno big chiefs for strategic reasons," said Kua.

‘The New Village' which was due to hit cinemas on Aug 22 have been abruptly suspended by the government pending another review while ‘Tanda Putera', after repeated push backs since last year, will be in cinemas on Aug 29.

Kua said even though he is adverse to ‘Tanda Putera's' portrayal of the 1969 riots, he supported that it be screened to the public for it to judge. Likewise, the same should apply to ‘The New Village'.

"Their success or failure will depend on their artistic value and the proximity to the historical truth," he added.

'Policies over politicians'

He also questioned the Film Censorship Board's decision to do a second review of the ‘The New Village' despite earlier approving it.

"We have a situation of the board having watched the whole film and passing it, and an Umno Youth chief who has not watched the whole film and thinks it 'glorifies communism'," he said," he said.

The New Village Kua added that the board would be doing a disservice if it caved in due to pressure from "communal politicians".

"The Film Censorship Board should bear in mind that freedom of expression cannot be suppressed on account of threats by philistine politicians.

"It would be tantamount to negation of the rule of law and surrender to blackmail and intimidation.

"The government should have learnt by now that all such flip flops in cultural policies because of the antics of little Napoleons only make us look like a banana republic in a rapidly transforming world," he said.

According to The Star , Film Censorship Board chairperson Raja Azahar Raja Abdul Manap said "The New Village" had fulfilled all guidelines but had to be reviewed again after the issue of "glorifying Communism" arose.

He had also said that the board hoped to fully address the matter in the next few days.

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