KUALA LUMPUR (THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK) - The Walt Disney Company was right in refusing to edit Beauty and The Beast, Malaysia's Tourism and Culture Minister Nazri Aziz said on Thursday (March 16) as he criticised the country's censors for seeking to cut a "gay moment" in the movie.
"If you edit, the plot will not be the same anymore," Nazri, who is also an MP with the ruling Umno party, told reporters at the Parliament lobby.
"The next time there are Malaysian artists on stage who show characteristics of orang lembut (being effeminate), ban them too," he said, adding that the movie should be screened in local cinemas without edits.
"Only then will it be consistent."
On Tuesday, the Malaysian Censorship Board said it had given the green light for the live-action remake of Disney's classic animated feature to be shown in Malaysian cinemas with a minor edit. The minor cut concerned a "gay moment" in the film.
Disney said on Wednesday it would not allow the film to be screened with edits.
However, it was reported that the local film distributor, The Walt Disney Co (M) Sdn Bhd, said the movie's release date was merely postponed.