Looks like the Beauty and the Beast saga in Malaysia isn’t over just yet. Three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) lodged police reports today protesting the screening of animation film Beauty and The Beast on religious and cultural grounds.
The film caused quite the controversy when it was first shelved from screening due to a scene involving a gay character. Beauty and The Beast is set to be screened in cinemas throughout the country on March 30 after its screening was delayed in Malaysia.
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 reports went viral on the social media that the film would be screened in cinemas on March 30 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 youths and people of this country, on the other hand, 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.
Previously, it was reported that the Film Censorship Board would cut several scenes involving gays in the film but after protests from Walt Disney, it agreed to pass it with no cuts. The film has since been classified as P13 in Malaysia, which means audiences below the age of 13 years need parental guidance to watch the film.
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