Malaysian Minister Defends Bollywood Films As Group Sees Red
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 18 (News Agencies) - A Malaysian minister Sunday defended the screening of Bollywood (Indian movie industry) films on national television after a religious group blamed such films for moral decadence among ethnic Muslims.
Information Minister Khalil Yaakob was quoted by the national Bernama news agency as saying that Bollywood films were screened on popular televisions channels as family entertainment.
He said they should not be blamed for social problems besetting the Muslim community, as there were also other foreign films shown here such as those produced in the west, Hong Kong and Japan.
"Under the present circumstances, it is up to the Film Censorship Board," he said, but added that the final decision whether to screen the films or not rest with the local television stations.
Malaysia's Mufti Council has urged local television to reduce the screening of Bollywood movies, saying this could have negative influences on the country's majority Muslim population.
