Warning message on Pope documentary not from us, say censorship board

The Film Censorship Board (LPF) has denied issuing any directive to Astro to air a disclaimer before they showed a biography of the Pope on the History Channel.

A disgruntled viewer, Patricia Anne Martinez, had highlighted to The Malaysian Insider that a disclaimer - “THIS PROGRAM PORTRAYS DEPICTION OF RELIGIOUS FIGURES AND REPRESENTS VIEWS OTHER THAN MUSLIMS'. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED", was shown before “Pope from the end of the world”.

The "disclaimer" was aired four times throughout the programme, she said, adding that it was insulting "because the statement shows a deep insensitivity, as if a program about the life of the head of the Church is something on par with pornography or material of dubious ethical and moral value".

LPF chairman Datuk Raja Azhar Raja Abdul Manap said that the board had never circulated any instructions of this nature to TV stations before.

"This is their (Astro) own initiative. A lot of TV stations come up with their own initiatives and policies when it comes to things like this," he noted.

However, he said the board has "continuous discussions" with TV stations about censorship, but this issue touching on religious sensitivities had never been discussed.

"Sometimes they consult us and we give them advise," he said, adding that they had not been consulted on this by Astro.

Asked what is LPF guidelines on religious figures, Raja Azhar revealed that the issue was "not that simple".

"They know government policies. They must be sensitive about others as well," he said.

Meanwhile, Astro has declined to comment on the airing of the disclaimer.

The programme on the life of Pope Francis is next scheduled to air tomorrow at 12.05pm and 10.05pm on the History Channel.

Martinez, in her letter to The Malaysian Insider, pointed out that although there is a fatwa against beauty contests, there was no cautionary statement before the airing of beauty pageants on television.

"The statement advising Muslims about exposing them to views other than their own and that viewer discretion is advised, intimates therefore that aspects of the program COULD BE OFFENSIVE to Muslims’ point of view. Just how threatening or offensive to Muslims’ views could a  BIOGRAPHY of such a Pope’s short tenure be?"

"They (Astro) were most INSENSITIVE to me as a non-Muslim."