Academics call for self-censorship over Pulau

A university lecturer has urged the public to exercise self-censorship when faced with contents they deemed to be unsuitable rather than call for stricter enforcement of related laws from authorities in charge. 

Hani Yaakup, now attached to Universiti Putra Malaysia’s Faculty of Modern Languages and Communication, said non-Muslims cannot be prevented from creating artworks, while scenes from a trailer for the movie ‘Pulau’ - which had courted controversy - featured non-Muslim actors.

“So what we can do is to exercise self-censorship,” said Hani, noting that the Film Censorship Board (LPF) has carried out its duties to regulate new releases in Malaysia.

Hani noted the movie ‘Pulau’ was rated PG13, which advises parental guidance for viewers aged 13 and below, as it contains elements including horror and suspense, among others.

According to Hani, obtaining LPF approval to screen a movie is no easy feat.

“Because the LPF members are people of high credentials.

“It is not an easy decision for them to classify a movie as pornographic or not,” she said.

Further, Hani reiterated that ‘Pulau’s’ trailer shared online is no longer under LPF’s purview and instead falls under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.

“Once it’s on the internet it is under the jurisdiction of MCMC. So LPF can’t interfere with online matters,” she said.

The LPF in a statement yesterday said it has reviewed the movie and classified it as a horror movie and not porn as alleged by certain quarters who viewed the trailer.

Meanwhile, creative arts lecturer at Akademi Seni Budaya dan Warisan (Aswara), Azlim Ibrahim, said more Malaysians are now connected to the internet and able to access various movies online, including in Kelantan where cinemas are banned by the PAS-led government.

She said clothes worn by actors in western shows or movies are often more revealing than those seen in the ‘Pulau’ trailer.

‘Watch before rating’

Azlim also argued that a movie should not be labelled as pornographic or otherwise just based on its trailer.

“I would suggest first watching the movie, and then rating it,” she said.

Azlim said she personally viewed ‘Pulau’ as a story about a group of youths on an island holiday, where they were involved with negative acts and earned retribution.

The movie came under the spotlight in the past few days after it was alleged to contain obscene materials.

Among those who criticised ‘Pulau’ was former deputy religious affairs minister Ahmad Marzuk Shaary, who claimed that the horror thriller “contains scenes that are obscene and excessive”.

Following this, filmmaker WebTVAsia had urged the public not to judge ‘Pulau’ based on its trailer alone and before watching the movie, which is due to be released on March 9.

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