NGO wants to meet Hishammuddin over 'Viswaroopam'

Ikatan Rakyat Insan Muslim Malaysia (Irimm) intends to meet Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein to discuss the South Indian movie, 'Viswaroopam', whose screening was halted recently, as its contents were reportedly controversial. Irimm president Amir Amsaa Alla Pitchay said it was unfair that the minister was only meeting the film distributor to discuss the contents, and not those who lodged complaints against the movie. He was commenting on Hishammuddin's statement yesterday that he would meet film distributor Lotus Five Star Sdn Bhd next week to discuss the said film over its reported controversy. "We, together with the Majlis Madrasah India Muslim Malaysia, had sent a memorandum to make a complaint against the film, to the information communication and culture ministry last week, over its controversial contents which depicted Muslims as terrorists. "Hence, we are not satisfied that we were not extended an invitation to discuss the film's contents," he told Bernama when contacted today. 'Viswaroopam', acted and directed by South Indian movie star Kamal Hassan, was screened nationwide on Jan 24. However, the following day, the movie's screening was halted, following instructions from the home ministry, in lieu of Irimm's complaint that its contents were allegedly sensitive to Islam.