Pulau actor says initially unaware of allegedly raunchy scenes in movie

KUALA LUMPUR – An actor starring in local movie Pulau, which has been criticised for purportedly salacious scenes in its trailer, claimed that he was initially unaware that the film would contain raunchy content.

Speaking to reporters during a press conference for the movie, Ikmal Amry said that in his first reading of the script provided to him, he did not notice any scenes depicting “soft-porn” content.

“At first, I was not aware that such scenes are part of the movie. I only realised (such scenes) when I re-read the entire script.

“I am not involved in any of those scenes. I didn’t interfere with them,” he said, as quoted by The Vibes’ Bahasa Malaysia sister portal Getaran.

He added that while he had been offered to act in “steamy” productions by other directors in the past, he declined them, citing his marriage.

Besides that, he said he gave his undivided attention to the filming of Pulau, going so far as to leave his pregnant wife at home and tan himself.

It was previously reported that Pulau’s trailer has come under fire from various sectors, including religious figures who criticised the horror thriller for stepping out of line with its ostensibly raunchy content.

The flick, produced by My Way Pictures in collaboration with Film Force Studios, is set to hit the big screens on March 9.

Besides Ikmal, the cast includes renowned actor Namron, beauty queen Sanjna Suri, model and actress Amelia Henderson, and Malaysian Penthouse cover girl and former adult star Siew Pui Yi.

Meanwhile, National Film Development Corporation chief executive officer Prof Md Nasir Ibrahim denied the body’s involvement in the movie being greenlighted.

Asserting that film screening guidelines are under the jurisdiction of the Film Censorship Board (LPF) and the Home Ministry, it said the criticised scenes should not have been included as they “do not portray the values of decency and morality practised by our people”.

He added that the film had received LPF approval in September last year. – The Vibes, January 18, 2023