regarding Le Fou ...

topic of the day 013

Beauty and the Beast pulled out of Malaysia

What?

The predetermined screening of Beauty and the Beast in Malaysia has been postponed indefinitely because of the forced cut of a certain scene by the local censor board which in turned forced the hand of Disney to pull the it from the cinemas.

Who?

The Film Censorship Board of Malaysia.

How?
As a predominantly Muslim country and governed with Islamic laws, it's in their power to affect any of the foreign media coming across the sea and how they are viewed by the locals, limiting some of the materials to only a certain demographic or more severely cutting them off to even be allowed in the cinema or any other medias.

Why?

The religious implication behind this particular matter is concerning the controversial issue of same gender relationship that's even more taboo than the nature of consummation, with the latter isn't at all recognized by the government as an important subject to be educated on let alone the former's more complex and delicate implications.

Then?

I understand as a Muslim the Board's decision to withhold Islam's values and principles yet I could argue against it just on the principle of not restricting art as a way to express oneself. The understandably restrictive view of Islam in current atmosphere would be viewed in a negative light especially in today's more open and accepting point of view worldwide despite the difference in religions and cultures.

So?
It is just unfortunate for us the moviegoers to suffer because of too restrictive guidelines by the local board that's just going too overboard in applying the rules although the scene in question isn't at all racy or sexual in nature especially if you compare it to what we could find today freely on the internet.

Lesson Learned:

"For the safety of the viewers or just overcompensation over the lack of knowledge on the matter?"

source: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6