KUALA LUMPUR: Three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) lodged police reports yesterday protesting the upcoming screening of animated film Beauty and The Beast, as its gay character “goes against the religious and cultural values of Malaysia.”
The classic Walt Disney film is set to be screened in cinemas throughout the country on March 30, after its premiere was delayed in Malaysia because of its purportedly gay content.
The police reports were lodged by the president of the Pertubuhan Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah (MJMM), Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah; chairman of the Dewan Ekonomi dan Sosial Malaysia (DESMMA), Mohd Fazil Abdullah; and chairman of the Ikatan Rakyat Insan Muslim Malaysia (IRIMM), Amir Amsaa Alla Pitchay.
Abdul Rani said the police report was made after the film received the green light for screening in cinemas without any cuts to the “gay scenes.”
"We hope the Home Ministry will ban the film from being screened in this country.
"Screening the film does not benefit the youth and people of this country. It only has negative values and bad effects on society," he told reporters after lodging the police report at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters here.
Previously, it was reported that the Film Censorship Board would cut several scenes involving a gay character in the film, but after protests from Walt Disney, it agreed to pass it with no cuts.
The film was embroiled in controversy after its director Bill Condon said in an interview with 'Attitude' magazine in the United Kingdom that the character Le Fou, played by Josh Gad, is gay.
The film has been classified P13, which means audiences below the age of 13 years need parental guidance when viewing it. -- BERNAMA