Lelaki Komunist Terakhir (The Last Communist)

Medium: Film Video

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Artist: Amir Muhammad, film director (b. 1972)

Confronting Bodies: Malaysian Home Ministry

Dates of Action: May, 2006

Location: Malaysia

Description of Artwork: The film, Lelaki Komunist Terakhir (The Last Communist), is about the Communist leader, Chin Peng. The Communists controlled Malaysia from the 1950s through the 1970 during which the country endured a long guerilla war.

The Incident: The Malaysian Home Ministry banned the film, despite the film's approval by the Censorship Board. Twenty Special Branch officers viewed the film and did not complain about its content. The Malaysian government decided to ban the film after facing various pressures. On various blogs, Malaysians are complaining about the government's ban of the film. These bloggers disagree with the government's actions because they claim that the government never saw the film and reject the government's argument that the public protested the film.

Results of Incident: Unknown

Source: www.malaysiakini.com; The Malay Mail, www.mmail.com