Shabery: 'Tanda Putera' to hit cinemas in Penang on Saturday

The 'Tanda Putera' movie will hit the cinemas in Penang starting this Saturday, said Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.

The minister, in his latest Facebook status, said the Malaysian National Film Development Corporation (Finas) had been asked to ensure that the movie would be screened in cinemas in the state as scheduled.

On Wednesday, Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng issued an order to cinema operators in the state not to screen the movie, which was deemed controversial by the opposition.

Lim, however, was reported to have changed his mind and said it was merely an 'advisory'.

"Maybe the people's demand and anger have caused the cinema operators to receive a new letter, an 'advisory', instead of 'order'," Ahmad Shabery said.

He said if there really were slanderous scenes that could provoke racial hatred in the movie as claimed by Lim, those concerned could lodged a report to the police and the Film Censorship Board (LPF).