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Britain offers apology for “offending” film

LONDON: Britain’s Ministry of Defence has been forced to apologise to Malaysia for inadvertently portraying a Malaysian as a terrorist in a promotional film for its elite force, the Royal Marines.

The film, in which a Malay-speaking man is reportedly shown carrying a Kalashnikov and calling himself as the “most evil man in the world,” has been withdrawn and the Defence Ministry said it was sorry for any “offence” it may have caused.

“It was certainly not our intention to cause any offence. The advertisement has been withdrawn from circulation,” it said. Media reports said the film shocked Malaysians because Malaysia is one of the most moderate Muslim countries with no history of terrorism. The issue was first raised in Malaysian Parliament though the government did not lodge a protest.

A Malaysian Foreign Ministry official was reported as saying that the film hurt Malaysian sensitivities. He welcomed the Defence Ministry’s decision to withdraw the film as a “good gesture.” The Guardian said Defence Ministry officials “privately admitted contrition about what they agreed could be interpreted as an insult.”

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