More online film screenings, fees to be increased - Zahid

The Film Censorship Board will expand online screening of films for speedier and more efficient film screening, while the screening fee is to be raised.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the ministry, through the censorship board, would be making changes to expedite the screening process.

"This is also because the number of local and imported films for screening has increased by almost 50 percent since 2010," he said at a news conference after attending the Film Censorship Board's 60th anniversary celebration, here, today.

On applications for online film screening, Ahmad Zahid said the time had come for the board to use this method wholly to reflect a more modern, efficient and faster way of doing the job, thus producing more convincing results.

He cited satellite TV station Astro and cable TV channels Hypp TV and ABN which had opted for online film screening.

He said manual screening of a film to be shown at the cinemas would take five days and for DVD screening, 10 days.

On the rate of payment for film screening, Ahmad Zahid said it should be reviewed and increased as the present rate had been used since more than 30 years ago.

He said the new rate could be applied for the next 10 to 20 years.

In another development, Ahmad Zahid said media practitioners, especially the new media, should write news reports based on facts and not on mere speculation.

"Perception is not part of journalistic ethics. The conventional or traditional media seldom create problems, but not the new media as some of the news editors have their own agenda," he noted.

He was commenting on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's statement calling on all Malaysians including statesmen, journalists and politicians to cooperate by avoiding making provocative statements and to help reduce arising tension.