The Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim) yesterday called on film producers to appoint or refer to religious experts in their productions, especially horror films, for fear that the films would contain negative values and deviate from the teachings of Islam.
Its director-general Othman Mustapha said the producers should also adhere to Jakim’s Guidelines on Printed Publications and Audio Visual Relating to Elements which Contradict the Beliefs and Practices of Sunnah Wal Jamaah issued in 2005.
Film genres like horror, fantasy and superstition are not helping much in developing the future generation, but instead, such films are corrupting the minds of the younger generation, he said in response to former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s remarks that horror films were counter-productive to building a developed society.
Due to modern technology, horror films and dramas have also been made available for viewers at all ages around the clock, he said in a statement yesterday.
– Bernama