Guan Eng denies banning the screening of Tanda Putera

The Penang State government has denied banning the controversial film, Tanda Putera which is scheduled to be screened today in cinemas.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said that the state had only issued an advisory and that no action will be taken against any cinema operators in Penang should they continue to screen the movie.

“Just as no action is taken against citizens who risk their personal safety by ignoring such travel advisories, no action will be taken against cinema operators who ignore the state government’s advisory,” he said in a statement.

Lim said to rebut the lies by the BN-controlled media, the Penang state government reiterates that it will not stop anyone who wants to see the film in Penang.

“Both local councils Majlis Perbandaran Pulau Pinang and Majlis Perbandaran Seberang Perai will not punish cinema operators in Penang for screening the film,” he explained.

Lim said the advisory was issued because he claimed that the film had ‘crossed a red line in using public funds’ to propagate lies that promotes hatred instead of racial harmony between the various races in Malaysia.

“The Penang state government is concerned that the demonization of minorities in the film may lead to future brutalisation of their rights and that of any Malaysian who advocates universal human rights for all.

“As a form of moral compass, this advisory is all the Penang state government can do to strongly object against a film that provokes racist sentiments and embodies racial hatred,” he added.

The movie, directed by Datin Paduka Suhaimi Baba, had come under fire for ‘inaccurate’ and ‘racist’ depictions of history. However, Suhaimi has defended her film, saying that the fictional film was not a historical account but was still based on true stories.

Two days ago, MCA youth chief Datuk Wee Ka Siong said that it was irresponsible for a film to “imply guilt on a particular race”.

Wee said that by creating certain disputed scenes, the director could harm the prime minister’s move towards national reconciliation.