YOURSAY | Al Jazeera faces the blunt side of the law

YOURSAY | ‘So, if I take a video of my children’s birthday party, I need to get a licence?’

Spotlight on Al Jazeera’s ‘filming licence’ may open a Pandora’s Box

Vijay47: If somebody wants to shoot a movie or documentary in Malaysia, he must first get a permit from the National Film Development Corporation (Finas). That is pretty clear and understandable as there are local sensitivities of race and religion to be considered.

In fact, if he wants to make any form of video recording, he must get a permit. That is equally clear. As clear as high-definition.

Let us fade to black and cut to Scene 2. Al Jazeera comes in and tells Finas it wants to shoot a documentary on undocumented migrants in Malaysia. What will the chairperson say, that is, when he has recovered from his shock? “Sure, brother, it’s camera, lights, action all the way for you”?

Assuming that Finas does give its approval, we will still have the next issue. Will it demand a final cut that overrides the director’s cut?

And just like the authority to reject an application without offering any reason, they can also censor as their discretion dictates?

I think we can guess what the response would be to any film where those in authority are not quite presented as vestal virgins.

Who knows, we might yet see the return of Al Jazeera, with an application to shoot “parliament and parliamentarians”. Tissues recommended. Art is not always truth.

Hmmm: The kerfuffle generated by the government's move, coming at the same time as the rubber glove manufacturer Top Glove affair, may make other foreign media organisations interested in the plight of migrant workers and refugees in Malaysia, which to my mind would be a very good thing.

We might hope to see even more documentaries and investigative reporting on this issue. And hopefully an improvement in labour rights in Malaysia as a result, or at least greater awareness of the issue, which would be the first step towards improvement.

As the government clamps down on the media locally, Malaysians will be increasingly reliant on foreign media to reveal what is happening on the ground on this and other issues.

My personal hope is that it won't be just Al Jazeera but also regional media (Indonesia, Philippines, etc) who will come in to give us a helping hand during this dark period.

Fair Malaysian: "Usually, we are not that strict," Finas chairperson Zakaria Abdul Hamid said when asked if the law (for a Finas licence to film) applied to ordinary citizens who might upload their videos.

But the law is there in the books and as long as it is there, it can still be used/applied. I hope he can give a better answer.

I have come to a point where trust is a double-edged sword and ambiguity can mean anything. It is all well and good until what goes around comes around.

BH Yap: You must wear a helmet while you ride a motorcycle. The law is clear on this one. There is no ambiguity. But the enforcement officers turn a blind eye all the time. Then they get picky when things don't go their way?

Kamrul: Wonderful. Now we can show the world our power to use the law accordingly as and when it suits us. Even though it may look dictatorial.

Cogito Ergo Sum: So, if I take a video of my children’s birthday party, I need to get a licence? This is like the good old BN days when one could be charged for letting off yellow balloons.

Only a system that is afraid of the truth, suppresses it.

Astro fined by MCMC for re-airing Al Jazeera's 'Murder in Malaysia' film

Malaysian1: Sometimes, I get caught in my own world. I see myself as the best person, which sometimes makes me arrogant as if I am infallible. I am, however, open to criticism and rebuke. I appreciate it as it makes me a better person.

The same analogy can be extended to governments.

CNN can openly criticise their president without fear. It’s this criticism and openness that improves the governing process. People listen to the criticism and make changes.

We all know foreign workers, despite the hard work they put in, are not having the best life. Their living conditions and general welfare leaves much to be desired. I believe it is this frustration and anger that makes them voice their views so daringly.

Relevant stakeholders should give this a deep thought. While the government actively defends the labour practices of some companies on the international scene, domestically it needs to scrutinise these companies to ensure things are indeed right and if not, make improvements.

We don't want another documentary, this time about workers in glove factories. With modern devices and apps, making documentaries is not difficult, with or without a licence.

True Blue: So the murder of the Mongolian woman (Altantuya Shaariibuu) has been an “annoyance” to the Malaysian public? We might as well close all news media and only use Bernama.

Free Thinker: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) suddenly realised a programme by Al Jazeera’s 101 East that aired five years ago is deemed indecent.

Coincidently, the programme then aired another documentary episode which did not speak well about a country. So, what’s been all the while considered okay, suddenly became not okay.

Citizen 5354: The more you bury the news, the more publicity you generate. In the world of globalisation, we can get news elsewhere.

YellowCougar9709: Indeed, trying to quarantine the news will only deepen the suggestion that something is amiss.

There are broadcasters here and overseas who will escape the dragnet. The result is a further loss of confidence in Malaysia.

We cannot be seen to be welcoming favourable news only.

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