The Film Censorship Board will look into reviewing guidelines to ensure objectivity when evaluating films, said Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar today.

The minister said this after discussions with the Film Censorship Board and its appeals committee.

syed hamid albar"The guidelines were drafted in 1993, it was seen to be relevant at that time but it may not be applicable now," he added.

The guidelines are based on issues that concern religion, politics, decency and ideologies. It falls directly under the purview of the Home Ministry.

"Looking at the evolution of our society the guidelines may not be relevant because of globalization and opposing ideologies, " explained Syed Hamid.

He referred to the guidelines as being "general and vague" and therefore must be reevaluated to need current demands.

"They (the censorship board) are supposed to make objective assessments when reviewing films but sometimes they have no choice, that in the process of making that objective assessment they will apply subjective rules," he said.

'Too rigid, too liberal'

He also said the committee is looking into reviewing the guidelines because some have expressed views that different standards are being applied to Western and locally made films.

"Some are of the view that we are too rigid and some are of the view that we are too liberal so we are trying to balance the diverse thinking," he added.

The minister raised his concerns over films made outside the jurisdiction of the ministry as he said "there is no way no to prevent films from being made and shown on alternative media."

"We have to be conscious that there are other ways to show and view films that are unauthorised by the ministry," he said.

"Today your standard of morality and spirituality has to be so strong because you are exposed to all sorts of things.

"There's no way to prevent what is being shown or seen. I'll be the last person say that we can totally control or ban everything out there," he said.

"While the industry may be very much influenced by the process of globalisation, there are segments of the Malaysian public which may not accept the change, so we need to strike an appropriate balance so that we do not strike a new area of conflict," he said.