YOURSAY 'From which government department does one get that kind of licence, how do you apply for one and how much does it cost?'

Cinemas may lose their licence, warns Shuhaimi

Milosevic: Shuhaimi Baba, I have a problem. I wrote a second-rate novel about a brave Malaysian film director who was despised for her creative talents by an ignorant population.

Believing in her creative ability, she managed to impress top government ministers that she had a worthwhile cause. The wise government took great risks and used its moral influence and sometimes arm-twisting power to get cinemas to screen her movies.

Once everyone saw the movie, they appreciated the talent of the director and the wisdom of the government. Everyone lived happily ever after.

Shuhaimi, everybody thinks my book is stupid and has no artistic value. I disagree with them, and think there is a deliberate attempt to stigmatise my book.

Could you please use your influence and promote my book? Maybe you can persuade the government to enforce a policy requiring all children to use this book in all secondary schools. With good instruction, they will get to love it. Please help your fellow artist.

Absalom: Yes, use creative licence and taxpayers' money to make movie that will raise tension between races. Then enforce the rule that cinemas must screen it. Good business model so far.

But why stop there. Perhaps you should make it mandatory for everybody to watch it. Nothing like a 'creative' movie by an 'award-winning' director, and who would not enjoy a scene with men pissing. By the way, should children watch it too?

Hang Babeuf: This Shuhaimi lady seems to be the holder and beneficiary of some sort of "creative licence".

I just want to know: from which government department does one get that kind of licence, how do you apply for one and how much does it cost, and are those licences generally available or only to card-carrying Umno-BN people?

BN Cyberpooper: Is this what it is like to be aligned to the BN regime? You get your production funded by taxpayers' money, and now you can compel cinemas to screen your piece of crap because you have backing from some government department.

Given the government's track record in skillfully driving the nation over the past five or six decades, one could not help but wonder if the government has some ulterior motive unbeknownst to us to screen this movie.

Someone is getting a big paycheck. I wonder who?

OMG!!: Wow, it seems to me that the Umno cronies really think this country belongs to their fathers.

Not only they abuse taxpayers' monies to produce a piece of crap to blame others for 513 (May 13), the full weight of the ruling elite is behind it and now the film director can even threaten to close down the cinemas that do not show it. This country is going to the dogs for sure.

Anonymous #47974365: It is very sad and unfortunate to see Shuhaimi injecting politics into Malaysia film industry and stirring up sensitive issues. In my opinion, arts such as films should serve one purpose, that is to provide entertainment to people.

In comparison to the late Yasmin Ahmad, her films delivered powerful messages yet remained apolitical. Perhaps, Shuhaimi could learn one or two things from the late director who is regarded as one of the rare treasures in Malaysia film industry.

Vijay47: Shuhaimi, instead of making high-fallutin' speeches about Malaysia's "creative industry", get off your butt and start earning the recognition and box-office success you are yearning for.

Perhaps you could learn a thing of two from Namewee. If your movie is worth its salt, there is no need to compel cinema operators to show your film to empty halls.

Cultivate some professional pride, get rid of that beggar attitude many of you seem to revel in and even you might make a movie that people may willingly go to watch.

What have you got lined up for ‘The Return of Tanda Putera'? That it must be Malaysia's entry for the Academy Awards and it must be given the award for Best Movie?

Then again, it might win - as Best Comedy, with the Best Supporting Actor's Oscar going to Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin.

Ontoi: Cinemas are free enterprises, if they lost money for screening the film ‘Tanda Putera', who is going to foot the bills? Shuhaimi Baba or Finas (National Film Development Corporation).

SpongeBob: I just watched your movie! There were three people in the cinema at the 12pm screening. It is a good movie if not for the urinating scene.

Let the people watch the movie voluntarily. The director is being stupid to include that scene. She should not have dragged unwanted politics into the movie. Indeed, she dug her own grave.

Dr Suresh Kumar: All right-minded Malaysians regardless of their ethnicity should boycott this movie, if it was indeed scripted to vilify the Chinese community.

We won't know, unless someone watches it. I suggest that, one of you go watch the movie and give the feedback. Don't rely on politicians' words.

If it's true that the movie is all about putting the Chinese in a bad light, then boycott not only this movie but all future movies by Shuhaimi Baba.

Psycho: One party says "Do not screen". Another says "Screen". At the end of the day, it is the people who decide whether to see or not to see. No one can force them or stop them.

Anonymous #039163649: I think that merely revoking the licence of the cinemas is not enough, the cinemas should also be torn down if they don't show the movie.

Besides, citizens who do not go and see the movies, the following action should be taken: 1) Charge them with sedition, (2) Revoke their citizenship, (3) Order them to migrate to another country.

Seeing the movie is a measure of our patriotism and every responsible citizen must go and see. Those who see the movie all 14 times should be declared a national hero and be given a medal.

Those who see three shows a day for 14 days must be rewarded accordingly also. I intend to see the movie five times only. Forgive me for my lack of patriotism, I have to ‘cari makan' also.

Voice: I believe this is the first time in history the government is using threats to force the cinema to screen a movie which is used to incite hatred and to create disharmony among Malaysians.

Salam Merdeka...

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