KUALA LUMPUR, 8 June 2009: Information, Communications and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said the re-screening over Radio Television Malaysia (RTM) of photos and documentaries about the communist movement in the country had proven to be effective.
He said since the screenings began in the middle of last month, awareness about the dangers of communist idealogy leading to deaths and suffering among the populace then had a deep effect on the people, especially on the younger generation.
"The effect has been very good, and we do not want to go overboard screening the films, but I see understanding of the matter," he said here today.
Rais reminded society, especially the young, not to look at communism as something that was noble and had values.
"The communists in the country were betrayers, killers, and they will be remembered as such.
"We have to look back at history and remind people that the country became independent and prosperous not through communism, and that the communists were traitors," he added.
Rais cautioned the young to not be obsessive with the proposal to allow Malayan Communist Party leader Chin Peng to return as it would unsettle the races.
"Chin Peng can't return as there is no basis for it; this is the final decision of the government and the issue does not arise," he said when asked about the possibility that the former communist party chief would be given permission to return.
On former Malaysian student in Australia, Wee Meng Chee, 26, who used the national anthem in a rap song in 2007, Rais said the ministry would get the opinion of the attorney-general for follow-up action.
He said the National Anthem Act does not provide any provison to punish a citizen of the country for making fun of the national
anthem.
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