KUALA LUMPUR – A rights watchdog today urged the government to drop its investigation of actor Zul Ariffin for sharing a controversial trailer for his upcoming Perempuan Itu drama on social media, arguing that it crimps the public’s right to freedom of expression.
This morning, Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa said Zul will be investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) for posting the salacious video on social media.
The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said Section 233 of the CMA is “deeply problematic due to its broad definitions and heavy punishments which they say infringe on the constitutional right to freedom of expression.
“Censorship is often done in the name of morality and decency…however, these notions are not universal and in using restrictive laws to effectively censor and punish individuals for differences in expression, we may fall onto a slippery slope leading to intolerance,” CIJ said in a statement.
The watchdog said the government must live up to Malaysia’s commitments as a member of the UN Human Rights Council by taking a “pluralistic” view of creative content.
The government should also repeal and amend vague provisions such as Section 233 of the CMA to fall in line with international standards on freedom of expression, and work with stakeholders to better define online content removal and censorship, CIJ said.
The controversial video, shared widely on social media, sparked controversy over scenes hinting at sexual innuendo between Zul and his co-star Siti Hariesa.
In one scene of the teaser trailer, Zul was shown removing his shirt and later lifting Siti Hariesa up while she wrapped her legs around him.
Siti Hariesa was also dressed in a French maid outfit in another scene, feeding Zul whipped cream while seated astride him.
The clip swiftly earned criticism and the disapproval of at least two federal ministers. Zul has since deleted the video from his social media. – The Vibes, March 22, 2022
