Censorship in Singapore

Judging from my previous experiences with censored films in Singapore, the degree of censorship varies wildly from film to film, something which somehow suggests a non-uniform approach towards screening the tapes.

The censorship board is itself not new to controversy. I myself had no doubt that a local satire film on the censors "Cut!" would have been banned had it not been the widespread reporting by foreign press.

True, given the multi-racial society, it is easy for something perfectly natural towards one group of people to be downright insulting, or even abusive for others. But isn't tolerance what the PAP administration has been extolling since 1965? It cannot be that the racial and religious harmony which has existed for 40 over years to be destroyed by a film! Such a scenario, if possible, would underscore a sorry state in our society.

Perhaps a major rethink is needed.

The story:

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Subject: Singapore censors missed point of film

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/entertainment/8613014.htm?1c

Posted on Fri, May. 07, 2004

Singapore censors missed point of film

Associated Press

NEW DELHI - Singapore censors missed the main point of "Final
Solution" when they banned it from the city-state's annual film
festival, director Rakesh Sharma said.

The film chronicles Hindu-Muslim rioting in India's Gujarat state in
February-May 2002. It was banned from this year's festival because
it "was potentially inflammatory and could create racial and
religious tensions," Wang Chee Yann, spokeswoman for the Singapore
Media Development Authority's board of film censors, said Wednesday.

In an e-mail Thursday to The Associated Press, Sharma responded: "If
anything, the film specifically addresses the issue of ethnic
violence and urges its perpetrators to desist from causing such
tragedies.

"I am deeply shocked as the Singapore censors seem to have missed the
very central point of the film."

"Final Solution" won two awards at this year's Berlin International
Film Festival. It was among three movies banned from the Singapore
film festival, which ended Sunday.

Singapore has a majority of ethnic Chinese - mostly Buddhist, Taoist
or Christian - and minorities of Muslim Malays and ethnic Indians of
various faiths, including Hinduism.

Censors routinely say their decisions are based on the need to
maintain ethnic and religious harmony.

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