'To Singapore with Love' is a no show at Malaysia's film fest

Around 15 officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs turned up at the Freedom Film Fest in Georgetown, Penang yesterday requesting the organisers to stop screening the film, To Singapore With Love.

The officers cited that the film has not been vetted and approved by the Malaysian film censor board.

Anna Har, Executive Director, of Komas, in press statement said that, after about half-an-hour of negotiation with the organisers, Penang state assemblyperson, , Ng Aik Wei and Cheah Kah Peng, the screening was allowed.

It was allowed to continue on the" basis that it was a state sponsored event and that organisers were streaming the films online and thus not in the jurisdiction of the film censorship act.

"We are thankful that the officers were co-operative and understood the context of our event and allowed us to continue the screening undisrupted this time.

Nevertheless the continued efforts from the authorities to pre-censor the films we screen is regrettable. Ideally, the government should work together with us in our efforts to increase awareness and discourse on human rights which contributes to the process of nation building," said Jerald Joseph, board of director of Komas.

'Films open minds'

"Pusat Komas, a human rights NGO established since 1993 is proud to be part of an ASEAN community that encourages peoples involvement in nation building processes through films that educate and open minds.