KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 6 — The Malaysian Censorship Board (LPF) censored a Singaporean documentary after the word “friends” was translated to “animals” that they said could lead to misunderstandings.

LPF chairman Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid told The Star Online that the mistranslation in the “Singapore GaGa” film by Singaporean filmmaker Tan Pin Pin could be seen as insulting the Malay language.

In the scene, Abdul Halim said that the late Singaporean ventriloquist Victor Khoo performs with a puppet and translates various phrases into several languages, including translating the word “friends” to “binatang-binatang” (animals).

“First, the puppet assumed the friends were animals. Second, the puppet assumed it would be better to meet animals than his friends.

“Third, Malaysians may interpret this joke as an insult to the Malay language because the words ‘friends’ and ‘animals’ are two words that are very different from how they are spoken and the difference in meanings,” he was quoted saying.

The LPF chairman said that while the scene remained in the documentary, the words in question were muted and the subtitles removed as it could play up racial sensitivities.

“The reason for LPF’s decision is because the meaning of these words could be misunderstood by Malaysians who watch it and they have the potential to be exploited to become a sensitive issue later on,” he was quoted saying.

According to Singapore’s TODAY, the censorship pushed Tan to withdraw “Singapore GaGa” from the Titian Budaya Festival, an arts festival that showcases the collaboration of Singaporean and Malaysian artists, that was scheduled to take place this month in Kuala Lumpur.