Media statement by Teo Nie Ching in Serdang on Friday, 25^th June 2010:

Challenge Rais Yatim to immediately allow non-BM films to enjoy 20% tax rebate

The Information, Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim was right to say that the social rights of Malaysian non-Muslims were contained in the Federal Constitution. However, he was extremely wrong to claim that the government must issue the sports betting licence for the rights of non-Muslims to be recognised and respected.

In a recent "Anti-Gambling at Internet Cafes" signature campaign organised by the Klang and Kapar MCA divisions, more than 2,000 signatures were collected in two hours. That seems to contradict Datuk Seri Dr Rais' view that gambling is a precious part of "non-Muslim culture".

If Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim is serious about recognising the rights and lifestyles of non-Muslims, there is something he can do immediately in his capacity as Information, Communication and Culture Minister.

Currently, Finas incentives in the form of the Compulsory Screening Scheme and a 20% tax rebate only apply to films with 70% of the dialogue in Bahasa Malaysia. Malaysian-made films in other languages do not enjoy these incentives.

As such, local Chinese- and English-language films like "Tiger Woohoo", "Ice Kacang Puppy Love" and "The Malay Chronicles ('The Chronicles of Merong Mahawangsa')", though fully produced in Malaysia, are not entitled to the exemption on entertainment duty.

Since the rights of Malaysian non-Muslims are contained in the Federal Constitution, then all Malaysian-made films, irrespective of the language used, should be entitled to the same incentives.

The Chinese-language movies "Tiger Woohoo" and "Ice Kacang Puppy Love" proved that Malaysian productions could compete with films from Hong Kong and China. Both of the movies collected more than RM5 million at the box office -- the most successful non-BM films in Malaysia to date.

There is a market for locally-made non-BM films. Unfortunately, not many producers are willing to make them because of the risks involved. Allowing non-BM films to the same incentives will definitely help to promote the local non-BM film industry, spur local creativity and inspire budding filmmakers to greater heights.

UMNO leaders should stop pretending that they are sensitive to Chinese rights. There are sufficient gambling avenues available to the non-Muslims to indulge their habits and the non-Muslim communities have never requested for more opportunities to gamble.

Since Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim has admitted that the rights of Malaysian non-Muslims were contained in the Federal Constitution, he should immediately abolish the restrictions that are placed on locally-made films which do not adhere to the "preferred language" condition.

He should also stop pretending that he is an expert on the lifestyles of non-Muslims and stop using non-Muslims as scapegoats to pursue the government's pursuit to legalise sports betting.

* Teo Nie Ching, DAP Assistant National Publicity Secretary & MP for Serdang