KUALA LUMPUR, June 11 — Local filmmakers should insert elements of national issues in their films regardless of genre, newly-appointed National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (Finas) chairman Datuk Seri Azalina Othman has said.

Azalina said Putrajaya has the right to ask filmmakers that were seeking government funding to do so.

“If a filmmaker asks for financial aid from the government — that is through Finas — then the government has the right to ask the filmmaker to include elements of national issues (kenegaraan).

“Doesn’t matter if it is a romantic film, comedy or horror (film) but as long as there is elements of national issues,” Azalina was quoted saying by news portal Astro Awani.

Azalina, who is also Pengerang MP, said the inclusion of such elements would enable the young generation to love and know more about their country.

“This new generation gets their information from entertainment, so shouldn’t we slip in (selit) information about the country through films?

“There is much to talk about when it comes to content of national issues. For example, the year of Malaya’s independence in 1957, the formation of Malaysia on 1963 or the May 13 incident. Imagine that there are youths now who do not know about the May 13 riots,” she said.

Finas had previously given RM2 million in cash and RM700,000 in use of production facilities for the making of the controversial “Tanda Putera”, a 2003 historical fiction film purportedly depicting the friendship and sacrifices of the late former prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein and his late deputy Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman during various events, including the bloody May 13, 1969 racial riots period.

“Tanda Putera” is the second Finas-funded historical fiction by director Datin Paduka Shuhaimi Baba after 2007’s “1957: Hati Malaya” which received a RM1.5 million grant.

Another 2013 film, “The New Village”, remains banned by the Home Ministry over complaints that it allegedly glorified communism.

The Chinese period feature film is said to depict a forbidden love story set during a turbulent period in the country’s history, where the British colonial government were then resettling Chinese communities into new villages.

Azalina has taken over the Finas post just less than two weeks ago, with Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek appointing her on June 1.