Al Jazeera has no licence to film controversial documentary - FINAS

Al Jazeera International (M) Sdn Bhd did not have the Film Production Licence or the Filming Authentication Certificate (SPP) to produce the controversial documentary 'Locked Up in Malaysia's Lockdown', according to the National Film Development Corporation (Finas).

In a statement issued today, Finas said this was revealed by the findings of its initial investigation after the documentary went viral on social media.

As such, Finas said it would give full cooperation to the police, which are currently investigating the company under Section 22 (1) of the Finas Act 1981 (Amendment 2013) for carrying out film production activities without a valid licence from Finas.

Al Jazeera, prior to this, released a 25-minute 50-second documentary entitled 'Locked Up in Malaysia's Lockdown' that denounced treatments of illegal immigrants when Malaysia took steps to tackle COVID-19.

Police were reported to have recorded the statements from several employees of the company involved in the production of the documentary to assist in the investigation under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

-- BERNAMA