Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil warns that action will be taken if OTT drama ‘Madu atau Racun’ is found violating religious or cultural guidelines.
PUTRAJAYA: The government will not compromise over drama and film content that touches on religious or racial sensitivities, including material distributed through over-the-top (OTT) streaming platforms, Communications Minister Datuk Seri Fahmi Fadzil said today.
He said although OTT content was not currently subject to the same regulatory framework as conventional broadcasting, the government could take appropriate action if investigations found breaches of existing guidelines, regulations or laws.
“The government will also not hesitate to take appropriate action if assessment and investigations find that there has been a violation of any guidelines, regulations or provisions currently in force,” he said at a press conference here.
Fahmi said he had contacted the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) chief executive officer over the controversy surrounding the drama Madu atau Racun, which is being streamed on iQIYI.
He said the ministry had instructed the Communications and Multimedia Content Forum of Malaysia (CMCF), together with Finas, to meet the production team and iQIYI this afternoon to obtain a comprehensive explanation about the drama’s content.
The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) would also participate in the meeting, he said.
Fahmi said Finas had regulatory jurisdiction over filmmaking activities and exhibition, including cinemas, while the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was responsible for regulating television broadcasting and communications.
“At present, OTT streaming platforms are not yet fully subject to the licensing framework imposed on conventional broadcasting,” he said.
The controversy surrounding Madu atau Racun intensified after several groups called for the drama to be stopped over content they deemed offensive, including alleged elements involving same-sex relationships.
Jakim director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee said the department had lodged a report with the MCMC over the drama, claiming that its content contained elements that contradicted religious and cultural values.
“Jakim fully supports the firmness of Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan, who rejected the screening of Madu atau Racun as it has caused public concern.
“This firmness is warranted as the drama broadcast on the iQIYI platform contains elements that contradict religious and cultural values as well as human nature,” he said in a statement today.
Zulkifli had earlier said his ministry rejected the drama and viewed seriously the incorporation of elements touching on religious sensitivities and local cultural norms, whether explicitly or otherwise.
Meanwhile, Fahmi said freedom of artistic expression must be balanced with responsibility to respect religious values, social harmony, as well as racial and cultural sensitivities.
“Freedom of artistic expression must be accompanied and balanced by the responsibility to respect religious values, social harmony and racial and cultural sensitivities, which are the core and foundation of our national unity,” he said.
Fahmi said Finas would issue a further statement after the meeting on the outcome of the discussions and any follow-up action.
