The Penang state government's request that cinemas not to screen Tanda Putera has elicited mixed responses on Twitter and among political observers.

This request was communicated to cinemas in Penang today on grounds that one particular scene, involving Chinese youths peeing on a flag pole, would cause racial friction.

Contacted today, political analyst Khoo Kay Peng, who hails from Penang, said the move was undemocratic and unnecessary.

"This move is not a good one... proponents of democracy have to get things like this right. The director has already said that the film is fictional and it was approved by the Film Censorship Board.

"We will have critics that will dissect the film, thus we don't need politicians to get involved," he said, adding that the people of Penang were mature enough to make up their own minds.

Similarly, Seri Setia state assemblyperson Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad took to Twitter to complain against the move, claiming that it will arouse more curiosity about the movie.

Don't stoke hatred

When asked for further comment, Nik Nazmi said those who want to watch the movie will find a way such as watching it in a neighbouring state.

“(The Penang government) is not sending the right signals, even if we disagree with the film's message. What we should do is to tell our side of the story and move on,” said Nazmi.

Even Selangor exco Elizabeth Wong took to Twitter to express her unhappiness over the Penang government ruling.

“Don’t agree to banning films. It’s a slippery slope. Today its Tanda Putera, tomorrow New Village. Stop treating Malaysians like children,” she tweeted.

However, there are some such as Shah Alam MP Abdul Khalid Samad who agrees with the Penang government's argument that material which may lead to racial or religious friction should not be published.

Khalid was in agreement with Lim that the film director Shuhaimi Baba's defence that she employed a degree of "creative licence" in making the film, was not a "licence to lie".

“He (Lim) is right. It is not a licence to lie, not a licence to incite racial tensions. It is not a licence to instil fear and racial hatred in society.

“These kind of lies and propaganda should not be allowed,” he said, stressing that he was speaking in his personal capacity and his views may not represent his party PAS.

Additional reporting by Aidila Razak.

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