Director: 'Lelaki Harapan Dunia' did not insult Islam
Filmmaker Liew Seng Tat has refuted claims that his film ‘Lelaki Harapan Dunia’ had insinuated that the Malays are obsessed with superstitions and involved in corruption.
Instead, the political issue depicted in the film was a universal problem and does not only happen among the Malays, he said.
Filmmaker Liew Seng Tat has refuted claims that his film ‘Lelaki Harapan Dunia’ had insinuated that the Malays are obsessed with superstitions and involved in corruption.
Instead, the political issue depicted in the film was a universal problem and does not only happen among the Malays, he said.
“I did not focus only on the Malays. The film is about society and the issues among us as fellow humans.
“Politics is everywhere. We do not need to go far, even in our own family there are certain politics involved,” he said in an interview with Malaysiakini .
He also denied that the animal slaughter scene depicted in the film was to insult Islam.
Camel-slaughtering scene
He was responding to criticisms made by director-cum-actor Khir Rahman who had touched on the camel-slaughtering scene in the film.
Khir, in a Fabebook posting, said that the scene had depicted the torture the animal faced when it was slaughtered until its blood sprayed.
“Maybe this is their perception of the Malays. I cannot accept it when Islam is insulted when a camel which is slaughtered is seen as torture for the animals.
“Its blood had sprayed over the Malays who were in attendance to watch the event,” Khir said on Monday.
Liew ( left in photo ), however, denied that the scene was aimed to insult Islam.
Based on his research, the blood of slaughtered animals will spray in such a way, said Liew.
The scene had shown how the people who were in attendance had to shield themselves from the blood using umbrellas.
“If we witness animals getting slaughtered, the blood will spray. If we don’t use umbrellas, the blood will spray on people’s faces and their clothes,” he said, adding that he was willing to show the research he had made on this.
Liew, who was raised in Jinjang, however believes that the criticism had not arisen because he is Chinese.
“I don’t believe it (criticised because he is Chinese). But there are those who say that it is because I am Chinese.
Comparison with Mamat Khalid
He also compared ‘Lelaki Harapan Dunia’ with the films of famous comedy director Mamat Khalid, who uses social criticism in his films.
Mamat who is famous for ‘Hantu Kak Limah Balik Rumah’ and ‘Zombie Kampung Pisang’, had highlighted criticisms over society’s obsession with ghosts.
“Based on comments out there, his films also touches on several issues, but he doesn’t get attacked. Am I attacked because I am Chinese?"
Commenting on political activist Hishamuddin Rais’ appearance in the film as a bomoh (shaman), Liew said Hishamuddin did not bring any political agenda into the character.
“The film is not controversial at all. Maybe two or three people say it is controversial, but 85 percent say otherwise,” said Liew.
The film, which was produced using a creative industry grant of RM1.2 million, began showing in cinemas on Nov 27.
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