No place for film touching on religious sensitivities - Maglin

Films or dramas seen as touching on religious sensitivities should not be aired in Malaysia, said Deputy Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Maglin Dennis D'Cruz.

He said unlike other countries, Malaysia was considered unique because of its multi-racial and multi-religious society and it protected the various cultural and religious practices in the country.

"When we discuss religious matters, we have to be careful not to slight any party as it can affect the prevailing racial harmony.

"While a film or drama has the role of disseminating information to the people, it should not run down others...especially on religion," he told reporters after watching a charity cultural performance, here, today.

He was commenting on the issue of a Tamil film 'Vishwaroopam' directed by Kamal Hassan which began playing nationwide on Jan 24, but was pulled out on the second day after being instructed by the Home Ministry for touching on Muslim sensitivities.

D'Cruz said it was up to the ministry to decide if a film could continue to be shown or not.

Meanwhile, RM5,000 or 25 per cent of ticket sales from the Children's Charity Cultural Performance Night went towards the treatment cost for G. Darvin, a six-year-old boy who has leukaemia.

It was presented by D'Cruz to the boy's parents, V.Ganesan, 32, and A. Jayaletchumi, 34, and was witnessed by Deputy Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk M.Saravanan.

Ganesan said his son was confirmed suffering from the disease in August last year when he suddenly fainted while playing in the house.

"We sent him to Serdang Hospital for treatment and the doctors confirmed he had the disease before asking us to bring him to Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital for further treatment," he said.

Ganesan said Darvin's treatment would cost about RM32,000 a year and it was far beyond their means, and were thankful to parties concerned about the boy.