Why Babi Can't Be Screened

An award-winning Malaysian film about racism based on a true school racial riot that took place in Malaysia can’t be screened in its own country. Let that sink in. Are you angry yet? Because it’s about to get a lot more enraging.

The feature-length indie film Babi by Namewee combines visceral, honest dialogue, and dark, decisive scenes that its director is reported to have said, “sheds light on a massive school racial riot which took place in year 2000 in a small town somewhere Southern in Malaysia”, an incident which is vastly unknown to the general public. Its overarching theme that all Malaysians that must be unified regardless of ethnicity and race is a crucial message which echoes particularly strongly in the year of 2020. And of course, no one actually in Malaysia can watch it.

The legal reasoning?

Two things. First, there was a police report filed on its movie poster for containing racial slurs. This is true. It is also a significant part of how the movie chooses to portray the racial themes of its narrative, and is arguably at the heart of its events and how it clearly illustrates its message. The reasoning for opposition against the poster was the fear that “it can cause interracial tension in Malaysia”. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was then asked to block all content relating to the film on his social media accounts.

And the reason Malaysian theaters weren’t asked to screen the movie: the short answer is a lot of laws that make it a danger. These include the Sedition Act, the Communications and Multimedia Act (criminalises online content that is “obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character.”), the Film Censorship Act (possessing, circulating or screening a film that has not been approved by the government Board of Censors is a crime punishable by up to RM30,000 fine and/or three years imprisonment), the Printing Presses and Publication Act (absolute discretion to the Minister of Home Affairs to grant and revoke licences for all print media, giving the government tremendous power over newspapers and other printed media outlets) and others. These laws restrict the creative freedom and expression of artists for fear of inciting rebellion or creating disharmony in the country. Thanks to vague terms and selective enforcement, these pieces don’t even have to be made in the context of artivism. For a quick read up on these, check out Amnesty International Malaysia’s Unsilenced page. You can find summaries, completely with their penalties and notable cases there. 

These censorship laws are highly restrictive toward artists and creatives, particularly those with a bold, unapologetic narrative to tell. Examples of things restricted in the past include anything from news articles and journalism to films,  song lyrics, and even drawings. 

Freedom of expression matters for numerous reasons, particularly because it gives the opportunity for important narratives to be told and heard, often by the people whom it would resonate most. It’s an integral part of democracy, as well as a human right (check it out, Article 10 for the specifics). While the government does have a right and responsibility to restrict the freedom of expression to keep some amount of peace, the enforcement of restriction should clearly be proportionate and appropriate. This is often disregarded with the selective enforcement of laws, as is clear from the case studies that can be found on the Unsilenced site. Personally, it is incredibly frustrating to know that my work as a creative could be at risk for being charged under these laws, simply for stating what I had to say.

So what can we do about this?

First of all, if you’re in Taiwan, this film actually is being screened in theaters, so have fun viewing it. But if you’re not, you can still catch a glimpse of it through the trailer, the behind-the-scenes video, and the music video (which actually features four languages!). 

As for what we can do about the laws that bind us: sign Amnesty International Malaysia’s Unsilenced petition. Its page has information and resources on the issue, if you’d like to educate yourself. Case studies, lists of specific laws and events related to them, as well as other educational videos and courses. All for free.

Look: simple, blissful ignorance, isn’t what creates equality and equity. Understanding and acknowledging the truth of our past, and working to change that in our society today is what does. With a country as diverse as Malaysia, it’s imperative that we understand the ways in which racism appears in our society, but also how we can combat it with education and empathy. Our art and freedom of expression matters. Creative, informed voices with important narratives to tell shouldn’t be silenced. So the least we can do is to talk about and act on it.