Minister wants 'scene disparaging DAP' removed from movie

Communication and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak has requested that the creators of the movie titled The Malay Regiment to delete a scene which was considered disparaging towards DAP.

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Salleh said he has asked for the scene featuring a car with the number plate "DAP165" in the trailer uploaded on You Tube to be removed.

"The matter was brought to my attention this morning. Upon checking the trailer, I found that the scene was inappropriate and asked for it to be removed," he added.

Salleh also reminded all filmmakers to be more sensitive and not to go overboard.

Earlier, former law minister Zaid Ibrahim urged all those reformists and activists who have doubts concerning Dr Mahathir Mohamad leading the opposition coalition to watch the movie trailer.

"Watch it and then tell me if you still think Mahathir is more of a threat to us as a people and a country than (Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak).

"We will not get any reform agenda if Najib wins again," he said in a media statement.

First Tanda Putera, now this

Speaking to Malaysiakini, Zaid said that he felt sick after watching the trailer.

"Whenever Merdeka celebrations come about, the Malay regiment is used as a political tool to attack the Chinese, and specifically DAP.

"Previously, it was Tanda Putera, and now we have this," he added.

Zaid, who is a DAP member, said the armed forces should not be misused, as they had sacrificed their lives to battle enemies of the nation.

"But DAP is not the enemy. This should not happen, we should not encourage such hatred. Umno must be more gentleman (in its politics). I find it sick, to be honest. It is unfortunate," he added.

Malaysiakini has contacted the movie's director Jurey Latiff Rosli for comment.

What's with DAP165?

The two-minute trailer depicts an army veteran recalling his role in the Malay Regiment's fight against communist insurgents.

One scene, set in the modern-era, depicted a man staring at Parliament with the car number plate "DAP165" while the voice over in Cantonese say: "To achieve victory, we must use our heads to rule the economy".

The man was seen clutching a 2005 satirical book by André de Guillaume titled "How to Rule the World: A Handbook for the Aspiring Dictator".

The number plate "DAP165" appears to be a play on the term "DAPigs" which is often used online to disparage the DAP.

Another scene showed men at a Chinese coffeeshop and a communist encampment cheering over news that 11 soldiers died after insurgents attacked a military helicopter.

The trailer appeared online as early as December last year. It is scheduled to hit cinemas on Aug 31 in conjunction with Merdeka Day. - Mkini