No need to blow up dispute over 'Ola Bola' - KJ

TAPAH: Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said the dispute between former national football players and the Ola Bola film production company should not be blown up.

"At the beginning of the film they (production company) already said the film was inspired by historical events and not 100 percent based on historical facts.

"If not, they would surely use their real names," he told reporters after flagging off Le Tour de Langkawi 2016 (LTDL) at Dataran Merdeka, here today.

Also present were Perak Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abd Kadir and Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Datuk M. Saravanan.

The film Ola Bola is based on events surrounding the success of the Malaysian football team in qualifying for the 1980 Moscow Olympic Games.

Several former national football players had threatened to take legal action against the Ola Bola film production company for allegedly changing some facts.

Meanwhile, Khairy said Ola Bola is among the best films which should be watched by football supporters and the general public.

The film produced by Astro Shaw and directed by Chiu Keng Guan has become a big hit with collection of more than RM14.5 million after 29 days of screening.