Abdul Rahman critical of Finas and PFM for omitting 'Jagat' and 'Ola Bola'

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan (pix) has joined the bandwagon of people who have been critical against the omission of two highly-rated local films from the Best Film category in the Malaysian Film Festival (FFM) 2016.
The two critically acclaimed movies, Ola Bola and Jagat, were instead nominated for the Best Non-Bahasa Melayu Film award due to the dialogues not being fully in Bahasa Malaysia.
"Ola Bola and Jagat are the epitome of hard work, creativity and passion to Malaysians. To the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) and Malaysia Film Producers Association (PFM), lighten up please!
"There is no place for language profiling in creative industry. Don't use it to curtail their creativity. Let them be and see the spark," the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department tweeted on his Twitter account today.
Unimpressed by their disqualifications from the best picture award, Abdul Rahman urged both Finas and PFM to relook at their decision to exclude the two films.
"I am a big supporter of the creative industry, including those hard working and talented people in the movie industry. They are the faces of the nation.
"I hope Finas and PFM will reverse their decision because it seems to me they are killing the very industry they are trying to save," he said.
When asked by a Twitter user whether he would do anything in his capacity as a cabinet member, Abdul Rahman said he will bring it up to the Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.
Salleh Said had, on Saturday, assured that he would discuss the issue with Finas.
Many in the industry, and the public, alike have voiced their dissatisfaction and disappointment after the nominees for the FFM 2016 were announced, with prominent filmmaker and actor Afdlin Shauki saying he is boycotting the festival.