KUALA LUMPUR – “You and your family must die” were among the threats received by Mentega Terbang director Khairi Anwar Jailani today, while red and black paint was also splashed on his car.
Speaking to The Vibes, Khairi, 30, said he was notified about the incident by his condominium’s security guard at approximately 7pm.
After the guard sent him photos and videos of the damage, Khairi immediately contacted police, who arrived 15 minutes later.
“I didn’t leave the house until the cops showed up,” he said, explaining that when both police and himself inspected the vehicle, slips of paper bearing handwritten threats were discovered scattered around the car.
Some of the threats read: “Islam must rise #MentegaTerbang”, “Remember your family’s safety Mentega Terbang”, and “Mentega Terbang don’t challenge Islam”.
With Khairi and others involved in Mentega Terbang having previously received threats on social media, Khairi said that the escalation into real-life aggression was a direct result of the government’s inaction.
“No one wants to take this case over and no one is condemning the threats we have been getting through social media,” he lamented, adding “especially Fahmi Fadzil, he has been pushing this (issue) around”.
Responding to the incident, Fahmi in a tweet condemned the intimidation and any actions that go beyond the confines of the law.
“Follow the law, don’t take matters into your own hands,” the tweet read.
Meanwhile, when asked if the attack would discourage him from continuing to make movies, Khairi responded “right now, we’re feeling the anger of the authorities’ inaction.”
According to a copy of the police report filed by Khairi, his colleague from the film, actor Arjun Thanaraju, also faced similar intimidation.
Besides having his car splashed with paint, Arjun also discovered slips of paper bearing the words “You die Mentega Terbang” and “Consequences! Mentega Terbang”.
First released in 2021, Mentega Terbang premiered in Indonesia at the Jogja-Netpac Film Festival.
The film rose to controversy after a number of non-governmental organisations lodged police reports against it for containing scenes “disturbing to Muslims”.
This includes discussions about Muslims eating pork and comparisons between the teachings on life after death according to different religions.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Mohd Na’im Mokhtar has said the film goes against Islamic theology, while the Home Ministry, which oversees the Film Censorship Board, said matters relating to the film are outside its purview, as the movie was only screened online. – The Vibes, March 16, 2023
