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Hantu Bonceng to ride on
By Patrick Frater
Fri, 23 September 2011, 11:59 AM (HKT)
Malaysian authorities have cleared the hit comedy-horror Hantu Bonceng (2011). They were called on to re-evaluate the film after complaints from the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party (PAS).
The PAS had claimed that the film, which was released in 80 theatres on 31 Aug, contained elements that insulted Islam. Directed by Ahmad IDHAM, the film is about a man haunted by the ghost of a woman killed when riding on his motor bike.
The film was approved by the Malaysian Censorship Board without cuts before release, but the PAS complaints caused the Malaysian Islamic Development Board (Jakim) to take another look. After review, the board said that the film's dialogue was not insulting to the Prophet Mohammed, according to state news agency Bernama.
The film, released in Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore, scored RM8.4 million ($2.67 million) through its theatrical release and subsequent screenings on the Astro First pay-TV platform.
With the Astro First release on 15 Sep, the film was removed from theatres by TGV and Golden Screen Cinemas, though it continued to play on other screens operated by MBO, Big Cinemas, Lots Five Star and independents.
Hantu Bonceng was produced by Excellent Pictures Sdn Bhd on a reported budget of RM1.5 million ($477,000) and stars by Zizan RAZAK, Juliana EVANS and Jue AZIZ.
The censor board chairman Raja Azhar Raja Abdul Manap said that censors weigh up all films according to four criteria: public security and order; religion; socio-cultural aspects; ethics and etiquette.