KUALA LUMPUR – The portrayal is based on “irrefutable facts”, said the production company behind Mat Kilau despite criticism over scenes depicting Sikh soldiers being violent with women and children.
One of Studio Kembara’s directors, Abdul Rahman Mt Dali, said there is no need to meet representatives of United Sikhs Malaysia even though the group labelled the controversial scenes as “fictional” and “distasteful”.
“First of all, this is an irrefutable historical fact. So, how do we make a film if we don’t describe it that way? I don’t want to put Malay or British soldiers (in those scenes).
“That would be a historical deception. Everyone has to accept what happened. There is no need to be angry or anything like that.
“If you want to be angry, don’t be angry with us (the Malays) or me, but with the British,” he told Harian Metro.
Rahman said movies are for entertainment purposes, adding that only rational people will not see it as something that can provoke racial divisions or sentiments.
“It’s just like Hollywood. Sometimes what they show is incorrect as well.”
Mat Kilau, which is Malaysia’s highest grossing film, has collected RM61 million at the box office after hitting cinemas 17 days ago.
United Sikhs Malaysia had said the Sikhs, who were British soldiers in the movie, were shown “to have laid hands on old folk, children, and helpless citizens”.
“While the controversial scenes in the movie were fictional, they were distasteful and hurt the sentiments of Sikhs. The Sikh code of practice prohibits laying hands on old folk, children, women, and helpless citizens even during war,” it said in a statement.
The organisation added that the movie shows the spirit of the Malays, who are determined to defend the land, but regretfully portrays members of other races and religions as villains.
Meanwhile, the National Film Development Corporation (Finas) defended its RM1.8 million funding for Mat Kilau, saying that it will not obstruct anyone from releasing films, amid criticism over the portrayal of violent turbaned Sikhs in the movie.
Finas chairman and senator Datuk Seri Zurainah Musa said the enforcement of content guidelines lies with the Film Censorship Board under the purview of the Home Ministry, not Finas.
In a statement, she said Finas provides support via the Digital Content Fund and a conducive post-production environment for the development of Mat Kilau.
She added that Finas urges creative industry players to be aware of audience sensitivities in this culturally and religiously rich country, in line with Keluarga Malaysia. – The Vibes, July 9, 2022
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