00:00A KL magistrate's court has granted leave to the director and producer of the independent
00:07film, Mentega Terbang, to refer constitutional questions on the charges of wounding religious
00:13feelings under Section 298 of the Penal Code to the High Court.
00:19Magistrate Noor Elina Hanim Abdul Halim granted the leave on Friday after determining that
00:25the application filed by Mohamed Khairi Anwar Jailani and Tan Mengkeng on March 11 has merit.
00:32The court adjourned the case until the legal questions are decided by the High Court.
00:39The two questions are to determine whether or not Section 298 violates Article 10 Bracket
00:451A of the Federal Constitution, which protects freedom of speech, and whether or not the
00:51phrase wounding the religious feelings of any person and element in the offence violates
00:56the rights to a fair trial as the phrase is ambiguous and thus contravenes Articles 5
01:02and 8 of the Constitution.
01:05Magistrate Noor Elina set September 20 for case mention for the parties to provide updates
01:10on the proceedings in the High Court.
01:13Mentega Terbang tells of a Muslim teenager exploring religions in the face of her mother's
01:18terminal illness.
01:20The Home Ministry banned the screening and publicizing of the film through an order signed
01:24by its minister.
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