A few days ago in Sibu, the police seized 243 copies of Selepas Tsunami, a documentary by Anna Har, produced for Komas.The seizure was made on grounds that the documentary was suspected to be seditious.
That popular catch-all allegation when no other valid grounds can be found.
Police seized 200 video compact discs (VCDs) with the title "Selepas Tsunami" (After the Tsunami) in a 4pm raid at house in Jalan Bruang here Tuesday.
Sarawak CID chief SAC II Huzir Mohamed said the VCDs contained contents in the Iban language and were of a seditious nature.
He said police believed the VCDs had been brought in large numbers to Sibu for distribution at longhouses around here in the run up to the Sibu by-election on Sunday.
"We also seized a number of campaign pamphlets along with the VCDs. Investigation are ongoing to trace the parties responsible for bringing in the VCDs and the case is being investigation under the Election Offences and Sedition acts," he told a press conference here. Bernama - May 12, 2010
Next day, the police reverted saying that they have checked it out and its NOT seditious”, adding that the 243 copies have not been returned, and are still in the possession of the authorities. This was reported in Malaysiakini’s Bahasa Malaysia portal.
So, here it is, in all its suppressed glory, the documentary the authorities (at least the ones in Sibu) don’t want you to see…
Selepas Tsunami (After the Tsunami) from Pusat KOMAS on Vimeo
Now you can discern for yourself – seditious, or merely being objective?
Like poison ivy rashes that irritate one to no end, objectivity is unfortunately one of those things many people are allergic to. Particularly those who think that the “official” viewpoint is the only valid viewpoint.
