KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 6 — The High Court today dismissed a judicial review bid filed by the director and producer of the banned film Mentega Terbang.
Judge Datuk Amarjeet Singh delivered the ruling during proceedings attended by Federal Counsel Mohammad Sallehuddin Md Ali, representing the Home Ministry and the government as respondents, and lawyer N. Surendran, appearing for the film’s director Mohd Khairianwar Jailani and its producer Tan Meng Kheng.
“This is the court’s decision; the application for judicial review is dismissed,” said Amarjeet.
Speaking to reporters outside the court, Surendran said the defence will file an appeal at the appellate court against today’s decision.
“Unfortunately, the judge has dismissed the judicial review and he has not given any grounds, but grounds will be forthcoming when we file the appeal later,” said the lawyer.
In the application filed December 2023, Khairianwar, 32, and Tan, 37, claimed the government’s decision to ban the movie was irrational and in breach of the freedom of expression enshrined in the Federal Constitution.
They also claimed the decision affected their incomes as the film could not be screened or distributed in the country.
The Home Ministry, through the Government Gazette PU(A) 2662 Film Censorship Act 2002 and the Film Censorship (Prohibition) Order 2023 dated August 21, 2023, signed by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, banned the screening and publicity of Mentega Terbang.
The film, broadcast on a streaming platform, sparked public backlash and anger for allegedly portraying scenes that involve conflicting religious beliefs and elements.
On January 17, 2024, Khairianwar and Tan pleaded not guilty in the Magistrate’s Court here to a charge of hurting others’ religious feelings through the film.
— Bernama
