Anwar wants greater freedom in the arts, particularly filmmaking

 However, the prime minister says such freedom should be aligned with local values, culture and morals.

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said he had urged the Cabinet to adopt a more accommodating and open approach towards those in the creative arts, but not at the expense of cultural values and morals.

SUNGAI BULOH:

Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim wants greater freedom to be given for those in the arts, particularly filmmakers, to ensure the industry remains relevant.

However, he said such freedom should be aligned with local values, culture and morals, rather than blindly following the model set by other countries.

“I do not want to portray myself as being too liberal … but if we want this country to progress, we must accept the reality that young people and the public want a freer and more open environment.

“However, this does not mean we have to follow the Western mould, while the Eastern mould does not necessarily have to follow neoconservative trends. The East should retain its values, culture and morals but remain open.”

Anwar said he had urged the Cabinet to adopt a more accommodating and open approach, but not to the extent of allowing culture and morals to erode.

“If things become too restrictive and rigid, I fear the arts industry, particularly filmmaking, will not develop,” he said at the opening ceremony of the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) Tower in Damansara Damai.

The event was also attended by communications minister Fahmi Fadzil, deputy minister Teo Nie Ching, and Finas chairman Hans Isaac.

Emphasising Finas’s role, Anwar said the corporation should be bolder in introducing younger generations to Malay films, including classic works that are becoming increasingly unfamiliar to them.

He said this needed attention because films are not merely entertainment but also part of the country’s cultural heritage and identity.

Anwar said he became aware of this gap after introducing his grandchildren to old Malay films, including the works of P Ramlee, which they responded positively to.

He said this experience showed that younger generations did not reject Malay films but simply had not been sufficiently exposed to works of historical and cultural value. - FMT