The Malaysian Bar - ‘Stars’ rap bar on Undilah clip

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‘Stars’ rap bar on Undilah clip

Sunday, 25 September 2011 10:18am

©The Star (Used by permission)

PETALING JAYA: The directive by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) stopping all broadcasters from showing the Undilah video which encourages the people to vote has come under fire from the “stars” themselves.

Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong, who was featured in the clip, said the MCMC should have spoken to the broadcasters first.

Dr Wee, who is Deputy Education Minister, said the public would be suspicious about the reasons behind the order although MCMC has said no approval for the video to be broadcast had been obtained.

“The MCMC should have advised the producers to obtain the approval from the beginning. Then, there would have been no issue,” he said in an interview yesterday.

Dr Wee, who is also MCA Youth chief, was responding to MCMC's statement yesterday that the public service announcement (PSA) should not have been aired on television until approval was obtained.

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, who was also in the video, described the directive as “most disturbing” as the video was non-partisan and a most refreshing PSA effort.

“Clearly, if MCMC's directive was politically motivated, then the move is grossly unfair,” she said, referring to the fact that four politicians each from Barisan Nasional and the Opposition, were featured in the clip.

The video's producer Pete Teo questioned MCMC's move as the video's producers have yet to even apply for approval from the Film Censorship Board.

“How can they not approve something that we haven't even applied for yet? We planned to meet broadcasters next week to ask if they are interested,” Teo said.

In its statement, MCMC said the withdrawal was because the video had not obtained approval from the board.

“As such, the PSA should not have been aired on television yet. Under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, all broadcasters must stop showing the video clip,” it said in a statement.

The 4.38-minute video launched in conjunction with Malaysia Day last week features 40 personalities including local artistes and athletes.

DAP information chief Tony Pua, who was also in the clip, questioned why the video was subjected to such strict controls.

“I am sure there's plenty of content that does not need approval from the board first like news programmes, live telecasts and talk shows. Not everything requires such approval, so where is the line drawn?” he said.

Another person in the clip, AirAsia CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes, declined to comment when contacted.

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