KUALA LUMPUR – The high court has granted Mentega Terbang’s director and producer leave to review the government’s decision to ban the independent film.
Judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh set February 14 for case management and later to hear oral submissions from both parties on the merits of the review.
However, federal counsel Sallehudin Md Ali – representing the Malaysian government and Home Ministry – told the court that the 2023 decision by the ministry is not subject to a judicial review.
Meanwhile, lawyer Zaid Malek, representing the filmmakers, said the ministry’s directive can be challenged in “exceptional circumstances”, reported Malaysiakini.
On January 29, high court judge Datuk Mohd Jamil Hussin lifted the gag order on director Mohd Khairi Anwar Jailani and producer Tan Meng Kheng in their ongoing criminal case, which was separate from the review application.
Previously, the gag order was issued as an additional condition to their bail that was tied to their court charges after they pleaded not guilty to an offence of deliberately verbally and visually wounding religious sentiments as the movie’s’ director and scriptwriter.
In March last year, the film received criticism and public outrage due to allegations that it included scenes containing elements contradicting religious beliefs.
Police initiated an investigation in response to complaints filed against the film that alleged it included scenes deemed offensive to Muslims.
These scenes reportedly involved discussions about Muslims consuming pork and comparisons between the teachings on life after death according to various religions.
Police also investigated death threats against several individuals involved with the film, including Khairi, whose car was splashed with red and black paint, and the perpetrators left handwritten threats on slips of paper.
The Home Ministry then banned the film’s screening in September last year. – January 31, 2024