http://www.necf.org.my/html/berita_f.htm PP5872/12/2004 SEPTEMBER – OCTOBER 2004 EDITORIAL Serious View on Small Matter PIRATED he Passion of the Christ is a pirated dics might have rationalised their powerful film that has act as “the lesser of the two evils” since roused deep emotions the film was not accessible at the time and provoked much before the censorship board’s approval. controversy all over the Others might have contended that it was copyright property is currently against Tworld. In Malaysia, the film has also a well-intentioned theft (if it was indeed Malaysian Copyright Laws. Christians stirred animated public debates, mostly a form of theft) and even used Bible who participate through purchasing or centred on *the government’s restriction verses to support their claim – “Whether copying or simply viewing are, in effect, of the film to Christians only. (*See page in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached” endorsing lawlessness (iniquity) and thus 3 for more on this.) and “I do all things for the sake of the opposing the ordinance of God. However, the Christian public has gospel, that I may become a fellow Second, is blatant copying of been so engrossed in this hullabaloo that partaker of it.” copyright material for commercial sale a they have missed the voice of one And why not? The pirated copies of theft? Are those who contribute to the criticism leveled against the Church – that The Passion has already struck a heavy blow piracy market accomplices? From the on the issue of piracy. Many Christians on atheism in China and opened up a secular legal dimension, movies are would have watched The Passion on pirated vast potential for evangelism in the considered “intellectual products,” VCDs/DVDs prior to the Government’s Middle East. Others may also argue that property of their respective creators under approval for the movie’s public screening. it is ambiguous to put copyright laws the Malaysia Copyright Act 1987. From Some churches have even screened the under moral category, for it is more of a the biblical perspective, both the eighth movie in their halls – obviously without law of utility, which gives privileges to and tenth commandments of the consent from the local film distributor. favoured groups. The more astute Decalogue, “You shall not steal” and Their intentions were sincere – to reach Christian consumer may go so far as to “You shall not covet…”, were given to out to non-believers, while inspiring a defend his purchase of a pirated VCD as encourage respect for others’ property for deeper commitment to Christ among legitimate since he had paid RM5 for it. the sake of stability in a society. their flocks. (“I didn’t sin. The manufacturer and the That means God’s people are not to But have we considered how non- traders did.”) long for or lust after the legitimate believers view this act? Recently, a church So, is it an ethical issue if we watch properties of others. In other words, while in the Klang Valley screened the film in The Passion on an unauthorised DVD/ those involved in unauthorised its premises. Several non-Christians who VCD? reproduction of original materials are knew about the screening then We break at least two biblical committing a legal offence under the commented that the church had directives on Christian living. First, Copyright Act, Christians – who know “illegally” shown the movie. They Romans 13:1–7 clearly states that all God’s laws – who buy, possess or even remarked something to the effect that governments are established by God and publicly screen a pirated copy of a movie Christians are no different from non- failing to subject ourselves to them is to have broken God’s law. Christians. oppose the ordinance of God. By direct Piracy is an offence. When we application, the Malaysian Government, Christians buy or view pirated VCD or Small Matter? and the subsequent laws it makes, is to DVD copies of movies, we not only Most Christians have no qualms about be obeyed. The will of God is that by condone the offence, we encourage buying pirated discs or watching films on doing right we “may silence the ignorance others to act against the copyright laws pirated DVDs/VCDs. For example, of foolish men” (1 Peter 2:15). some who have viewed The Passion on Unauthorised reproduction of • GO TO PAGE 3 NEWS NECF MALAYSIA COUNCIL Chairman LETTER How ‘Passion’ Reach Our Screen Rev Datuk Dr Prince Guneratnam Vice-Chairman Controversy Helped Publicise Film Rev Dr Eu Hong Seng Dear Pastors and Leaders, Honorary Secretary NECF Malaysia never applied to the had been banned and we decided to Elder Kong Yeng Phooi Government for The Passion of the Christ discuss the matter with the relevant Honorary Treasurer I want to ask whether it is correct to justify the means by the results? In to be viewed by Christians only. Its authorities through the good office of Mr Samuel Ang other words, is the way we do something justified by the results we get Secretary-General Rev Wong Kim Kong Dr Vincent Lim. We were in constant Committee Members by doing it? stressed this to clarify the misconception communication with him verbally and it Rev Justin Wan I ask this out of great concern over the movie ‘The Passion of arising from media reports and rumours was relayed to him that the film has Rev Ng Kok Kee Christ’. We all have heard the great reviews and the testimony of people that a certain Christian body was sentimental value to Christians and it also Rev Dr Dexter Low coming to Christ through watching it and how it (has) so powerfully responsible for this “Christian only” contains historical truths. Rev Foo Moy Ping impacted lives. I believe it is a very powerful film and will be used to viewing. “During this time, several Christian Rev Tay Wah Seng God’s glory. But the question remains to churches, pastors, and leaders He suggested that the misunder- groups wrote in to the Prime Minister to Rev Lim Soon Hock here in Malaysia – is it the right thing in the eyes of God to show a standing probably came about after the seek the approval for the film screening. Dr Khoo Kay Hup pirated copy to your church? Government granted approval for the One denomination particularly sought Mrs Grace Hee Yes, they are all pirated copies because it has not been released in Mr Chua Keng Seng film with the condition that the tickets approval for the film to be screened in its the US on DVD yet. We can say we do not know, or maybe better, we do Advisor are to be sold through churches only and churches. I believe that it was this not want to know. What a testimony to people in the piracy business Mr David Boler, K.M.N. not made available to the public over the denomination’s application that sparked that the sale of this movie is so great. And that it is being bought by the counter. Government’s approval for the film in talks that the approval for the film was righteous, holy, law-abiding Christians. Wishing to set the record straight, he anticipation of a government ban. Our forthcoming. NECF MALAYSIA STAFF I was at a pastors fellowship where this was talked about and we explained how the film came to our screen response then was that this was a “At that time, 20th Century Fox (the Secretary-General were also talking about how the current PM is stomping out corruption with the help of Dr Vincent Lim, the commercial enterprise and the Church distributor) had not even bothered to send Rev Wong Kim Kong, J.M.N. and illegal activities. Then a pastor spoke up and said, if anyone Prime Minister’s political secretary. should not be involved in the initial stage the film for review to the Censorship Executive Secretary (Secretary- knows how he can get a copy of the VCD to show his church, he wanted General’s Office) He said: “When the film was released of application by the distributor to the Board in view of our censorship laws that it. I about fell off my chair. in the US and other parts of the world, Censorship Board. Sandy Tan Another church we visited was going to show it and I spoke to the Confidential Secretary NECF received many requests to get the “But there arose rumours that the film • GO TO NEXT PAGE pastor and he decided not to and to wait for the original one. At Ching Bee Gaik another church, I preached from Colossians 3 on how we need to • FROM FRONT COVER Executive Secretaries change the way we live and act when we come into the Kingdom of Ann Low (Prayer) Malaysia Copyright Act God. The pastor stood up and confirmed and enforced what was said of the country, and encourage the growth Kathryn Tan (Finance) of piracy business. For where there is a THE UN World Intellectual Property Lim Siew Foong (Research) and then announced that next week they would be viewing the pirated Organisation gives two main reasons for demand there is always a market. We also Ngeh Hoong Eng (Chinese) video. WHAT? That is what Jesus called hypocrisy. commit theft indirectly by stealing the protection of intellectual property: Alfred Tais (Bahasa Malaysia) I believe that this is a test and in many different ways, the fact that intellectual properties. When we are Patrick Cheng (Administration it is touching people justifies using a stolen copy.