M’sian screening of DreamWorks' animated film 'Abominable' pulled

The Malaysian screening of DreamWorks' animated film “Abominable” has been axed after the film studio decided not to cut a scene showing China’s “nine-dash line”.

According to online site Says yesterday, United International Pictures Malaysia (UIP Malaysia), the movie distributor here, confirmed the airing of the movie nationwide has been cancelled.

"Universal Pictures (parent company of DreamWorks) has decided not to make the cut, and hence (are) unable to release (the movie) locally out of respect to the local censor board ruling," a UIP Malaysia spokesperson reportedly said.

This comes after it was initially reported that Malaysia’s Film Censorship Board ordered the removal of a scene in which a map of China with the controversial “nine-dash line” in the South China Sea is visible.

“The animated film titled ‘Abominable’... has been given approval for screening in Malaysia under the condition that the controversial map is removed from the film,” the board’s chairperson Mohamad Zamberi Abdul Aziz was quoted saying by Reuters.

The nine-dash line refers to Beijing’s territorial claim over large parts of South China Sea, which has been heavily disputed by many countries, including Malaysia.

Reuters reported that Vietnam had also pulled the movie from cinemas while the Philippines called for the scene to be cut.

The film, slated to open in cinemas here on Nov 7, is a joint production by USA’s DreamWorks Animation and China-based Pearl Studio.

The Bussiness Insider reported last month that the film, about a yeti who finds his way home with the help of several children, has earned US$10.2 million internationally thus far.

Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had said last month that Putrajaya wanted to remain friendly with Beijing and did not wish to unnecessarily annoy it.

“They (China) claim that the whole South China Sea belongs to them, that is their claim. So long as they allow ships to pass through (the waterway), that’s okay,” he said.