KUALA LUMPUR, March 24 ― Three non-governmental organisations (NGOs) today lodged police reports protesting the screening of animation film Beauty and The Beast which caused a controversy for a scene involving a gay man as it goes against the religious and cultural values in Malaysia.

The classic Walt Disney film is set to be screened in cinemas throughout the country on March 30 after its screening was delayed in Malaysia because of various reasons including the presence of a gay character.

The police reports were lodged by the President of the Pertubuhan Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah (MJMM) Abdul Rani Kulup Abdullah, Chairman of the Dewan Ekonomi dan Sosial Malaysia (DESMMA), Mohd Fazil Abdullah; and Chairman of the Ikatan Rakyat Insan Muslim Malaysia (IRIMM), Amir Amsaa Alla Pitchay.

Abdul Rani said the police report was made after reports went viral on the social media that the film would be screened in cinemas without any cuts to the gay scenes.

"We hope the Home Ministry will ban the film from being screened in this country.

"Screening the film does not benefit the youths and people of this country, on the other hand, it only has negative values and bad effects on society,” he told reporters after lodging the police report at the Dang Wangi District Police Headquarters here.

Previously, it was reported that the Film Censorship Board would cut several scenes involving gays in the film but after protests from Walt Disney, it agreed to pass it with minimal cuts.

The film was embroiled in controversy after its director Bill Condon said in an interview with Attitude magazine in the United Kingdom that the character Le Fou, acted by Josh Gad was gay.

The film has been classified P13 (under 13 years) which means audiences below the age of 13 years need parental guidance when viewing it. ― Bernama