KUALA TERENGGANU: Malaysia has stepped up security around the US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur following protests around the world over a film which has offended Muslims by allegedly portraying Prophet Muhammad negatively.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said Saturday that his ministry understood the outrage felt by Muslims worldwide and the reason for the protests targetting the party Muslims felt was responsible.

A 14-minute video clip, said to be a trailer that mocked and insulted Islam and the Prophet, was posted on Youtube in July, angering Muslims worldwide.

"I understand the hidden agenda of such a movie in wanting to provoke a negative reaction from the Muslim community.

"We are also monitoring the US embassy as part of security and safety measures," Hishammuddin told journalists after launching the Hulu Terengganu Umno meeting here on Saturday.

"Personally, I cannot accept the content of the film," he said.

He added the ministry had not received any application from the movie distributor to screen the controversial film in Malaysia.

"It is under the purview of the Film Censorship Board,” he said.

In LUMUT, Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir called on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to do something about blocking the Youtube trailers.

“The film casting Prophet Muhammad and Islam in a negative light has infuriated Muslims worldwide,” he told reporters after attending his Hari Raya Open House in Dewan Merdeka on Saturady.

Dr Zambry said several Middle Eastern countries had banned the film in their countries following a series of protests carried out there.

In Los Angeles on Thursday, a 55-year old man, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula, who is thought to have uploaded the Youtube clip using the pseudonym “Sam Bacile”, was placed under police protection following the protests.

The video clip of the movie “Innocence of Muslims” sparked protests on Thursday against the American Embassies in Egypt and Yemen, and led to demonstrations in Iraq, Iran, Tunisia and Bangladesh.

An earlier attack on the American consulate in Libya on Tuesday, which killed the US Ambassador and three other foreign service workers, was at first thought to be linked to the protests, but investigators reportedly said that they now suspect it was an extremist plot.

Related Stories:
Muhyiddin condemns film insulting the Prophet Muhammad
Group protests against anti-Islam video in front of American Embassy
Umno, PAS hit out at US movie

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