Singapore Malay film with LGBTQ elements sparks ‘haram’ criticisms, calls for dialogue

Online users have questioned how Salam Gembira was allowed to be screened, labelling it haram, or forbidden in Arabic, and even “sodomite influenced”.

Salam Gembira, or happy greetings in Malay, is a comedy that revolves around Moe, a Malay-Muslim Singaporean living in Rotterdam with his Dutch girlfriend when his parents make a surprise visit. His girlfriend switches places with her gay brother to hide that the couple lives together, but Moe’s parents then suspect their son is gay. The story is narrated by a gay character, who is portrayed as a Muslim in the film.

Salam Gembira is screening at Filmgarde Cineplex at Leisure Park Kallang and has had its run extended to July 31 after its premiere on June 30.

Speaking to This Week in Asia, the film’s co-producer and writer, Remi M. Sali, said: “Whenever you talk about being gay and a Muslim, it’s a big no-no. There’s no room for discussion.”

He noted that the creators tried to make the film more palatable for conservative Singaporeans, including by minimising the physical contact between the gay characters and setting the story abroad.

“We thought that it was important to open the discussion after the repeal. It’s about showing how a Malay-Muslim family can handle such a situation, but the problem is that people tend to have tunnel vision,” added Remi, referring to the repeal of the law criminalising gay sex in Singapore on January 3 last year.

Co-producer Ho Pak Kin said they did not expect the backlash to be so intense. “There’s no dialogue because it’s just labelled as ‘haram’; it’s like if you’re gay you can’t be Muslim and if you’re Muslim you can’t be gay, end of discussion.”

In a TikTok post of a Reddit thread on the film’s release, which has more than 3,900 likes and 1,800