Film Directors Association of Malaysia (FDAM) has declared that it will reinstate its support for the 28th Malaysia Film Festival (FFM 28). FDAM vice president Syed Zulkifli Syed Masi reached the decision after a satisfactory meeting with the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) and the Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak on Aug 16.
FDAM had previously withdrawn its support for FFM due to a decision made by Salleh on Aug 10 to remove three non-Bahasa Malaysia categories for Best Film, Best Director and Best Screenplay in the upcoming awards night. FDAM, in a statement posted on Aug 11, said the decision to remove these categories and disregard the national language is an insult to the National Constitution and National Principles (Rukun Negara). It wants FFM to continue to uphold the national language as the main criteria for awards.