KUALA LUMPUR: Disney’s hit movie Beauty and the Beast, under fire from Malaysian conservatives for a “gay moment”, will be released in the Muslim-majority country without any cuts, the entertainment giant said on Tuesday.

The film “will be released in Malaysia on the 30th of March, rated PG13 with no cuts”, a spokeswoman for Disney in South-east Asia told AFP by email. A “PG 13” rating means parental guidance is advisable for children aged below 13. Malaysian film censors could not immediately be reached for comment.

The film, featuring Harry Potter star Emma Watson, has raised hackles worldwide among religious groups angered by its depiction of Le Fou, the sycophantic sidekick to antagonist Gaston, as a gay man — making him Disney’s first-ever openly gay character.

Malaysian authorities had demanded cuts but Disney refused to budge, choosing to instead to appeal the decision last week.

But some members of parliament on Monday questioned the need to censor the film, arguing that the debacle was giving Malaysia bad publicity.

Religious groups and Islamic scholars had previously called for the film to be banned over concerns that it would promote “negative values” in the country.

The film has also come under fire from religious figures in neighbouring Singapore, while Russia slapped an adults-only rating on it last week following pressure from an ultra-conservative lawmaker.

Singapore has allowed the movie to be shown uncut but with a parental guidance rating for “mild portrayals of violence”.

Despite the controversy, the movie shattered box office records in its opening weekend, taking a monster $175.7 million in North America and $357 million in total, according to industry data.

Published in Dawn, March 22nd, 2017