Censorship in Malaysia

Censorship is a growing issue in Malaysia as it attempts to adapt to a modern knowledge-based economy. Malaysia has one of the world's strictest forms of media censorship, with nearly a hundred movies banned in this decade alone on the pretext of upholding morality. The Internet, however remains unfettered in line with upholding civil liberties and maintaining democratic spaces.

In 2010, Malaysia was ranked 141st in the Worldwide Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders. It was also given a "Partly Free" status on the Freedom in the World report by Freedom House in 2008. On the Freedom in the World index, graded on a scale of one to seven, with one being the most free and seven being the least, Malaysia obtained four points for both political rights and civil liberties.

Unlicensed use or possession of a printing press is illegal under the Printing Presses and Publications Act of 1984. Journalists are frequently given guidelines by the Prime Minister's Office when reporting 'sensitive' issues, and media self-censorship is encouraged.

The Film Censorship Board of Malaysia is the government agency responsible for granting licenses to the films for viewing.

Malaysia's censorship guidelines started out relatively lax. The guidelines were tightened in 2003 amid rising Islamic conservatism: kissing scenes and cleavages were censored, nudity and sex scenes were cut, and many movies were banned altogether. Censorship guidelines for local movie productions were subsequently eased in March 2010.

Background

Ex-Malaysian Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar said in 2003 that the guidelines surrounding censorship, which were drawn up in 1993, would be restudied because some of the rules "were no longer applicable". He reiterated that the main objective of the code was to build a better "Bangsa Malaysia". On the current censorship guidelines relating to nudity, he said that if a nude scene was "too explicit", then the scene would be axed. "It's up to the Board. They watch the scene and if it's too glaring then they will cut it. If it's not pornographic in nature, then they will allow it. It is very subjective." He also said, "Today's standard of morality and spirituality must be strong because people are exposed to all sorts of challenges" and "There is a correlation between criminal offenders and sex and violence shown on screen."

The censors pay special attention to nudity, sex, profanity, violence and sensitive religious themes in films. Films are rated to guide audiences on the nature of the content, or banned outright if the material is considered inappropriate. Any Hebrew and Yiddish-language movies and movies from Israel are not allowed to be shown in Malaysian cinemas. Rastafarian reggae is often censored, as it refers to "Zion".

Concerns have been raised over the board's political neutrality, as it is under the control of the Malaysian home office. All newspapers need an official permit to print, which must be renewed annually. The licensing system allows the government to close media outlets at will and often encourages publishers to toe the line.

Media controls

Internet

There have been mixed messages and confusion regarding Internet censorship in Malaysia. Internet content is officially uncensored, and civil liberties assured, though on numerous occasions the government has been accused of filtering politically sensitive sites. Any act that curbs internet freedom is theoretically contrary to the Multimedia Act signed by the government of Malaysia in the 1990s. However, pervasive state controls on traditional media spill over to the Internet at times, leading to self-censorship and reports that the state investigates and harasses bloggers and cyber-dissidents.

The OpenNet Initiative found no evidence of Internet filtering in Malaysis in the political, social, conflict/security, and Internet tools areas in May 2007. and is on the Reporters Without Borders 2011 list of countries under surveillance.

Prime Ministers Abdullah Badawi and Najib Razak, on many occasions, have pledged that Internet access in Malaysia will not be censored and that it is up to parents to install their own censorship software and provide education to their children (provide self-censorship). The ISPs also actively deny that there are Internet filters in place when asked. However, the Communications Minister has occasionally announced that they are working on a nationwide filter, but each time such an announcement is made the Prime Minister makes a rebuttal to emphasize that there will be no Internet censorship. The state ministries of Terengganu and Kelantan have also announced that they have statewide filters in place in their respective states.

In 2006 Deputy Science and Technology Minister Kong Cho Ha announced that all Malaysian news blogs will have to be registered with the Ministry of Information. He justified this by stating the law was necessary to dissuade bloggers from promoting disorder in Malaysia's multi-ethnic society. The web page faithfreedom.org, which expresses a critical view on Islam, is blocked in Malaysia (December 2010).

WikiLeaks, the popular whistle-blowing site, has also been blocked by the Malaysian ISPs. Trying to access countries under categories brings a 'Link is Broken' error message for the user. The government, however does not block pornographic and adult-oriented websites.

In April 2011, Prime Minister Najib Razak repeated promises that Malaysia will never censor the Internet.

However, in June 2011, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission has ordered the blocking of several websites including The Pirate Bay and several file-hosting websites via a letter dated 30 May to all Malaysian ISPs for violating Section 41 of the Copyright Act 1987, which deals with pirated content.

Print

In 2006 alone, 56 publications were banned by the Internal Security Ministry, including the Indonesian translation of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species.

Malaysia once banned the release of the Bible in Iban language. The translation of the word "God", i.e. "Allah Tala" was deemed to be specifically for Muslim use. The ban has since been lifted.

In August 2008, the Sisters in Islam (SIS), an Islamic organisation in Malaysia, was surprised to find that a book published in 2005 featuring a compilation of research papers was banned by the Home Ministry of Malaysia. SIS research and publications programme manager Masjaliza Hamzah said that activists and academics from Southeast Asia and the Middle East contributed to the book in 2003 and that it mainly focused on challenges Muslim women faced in their countries. A statement from SIS described the book: "It discussed strategies...used to curb extremism and promote women’s rights".

On October 27, 1987, Operation Lalang was carried out. In this operation, two daily newspapers, The Star and Sin Chew Jit Poh, and two weekly newspapers, The Sunday Star and Watan, were closed down for several months. They also had their publishing permits suspended temporarily. Prior to the operation, The Star was the primary English newspaper that provided news in the Opposition's point of view. This was considered treason, and during Operation Lalang, this newspaper was shut down. Most of the staff working for the four newspapers were laid off or otherwise threatened with prison and detainment, under the Internal Security Act.

In 2003, Tan Sri Abdullah Ahmad, the former editor-in-chief of the New Straits Times, wrote an article criticizing Saudi Arabian policies that aided the United States invasion of Iraq among other things. As a result, the Saudi government reduced the Malaysian quota for haj and in the same year Ahmad "was fired without warning by the daily’s management at the request of the ruling UMNO party following a complaint by the Saudi ambassador in Malaysia." UMNO, which holds a stake in the paper, later stated that he had jeopardized Malaysia's close relationship with Saudi Arabia.

In June 2010, Suara Keadilan's publication was not renewed because it published a report which claimed that a government agency was bankrupt. Suara Keadilan is run by opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's Keadilan party. The Home Ministry, which overseas Malaysia's newspapers, said it was not satisfied with the paper's explanation for the allegedly inaccurate report.

Music

Malaysia has a history of censoring musicians. In 2003, American rock band Linkin Park was told to refrain from wearing shorts while performing and in 2004, singer Mariah Carey was asked to cover up. Madonna has been banned from Malaysian television and a scheduled concert by Norwegian metal band Mayhem was banned earlier in 2006. Malaysian organizers of a Pussycat Dolls concert were fined for flouting decency laws. The country's opposition party, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, urged the government to order the cancellation of a concert on August 29, 2008 by Canadian rock singer Avril Lavigne. Her onstage moves were considered too provocative for Malaysia's teenage population. Eventually the concert went on as scheduled; it sold over 10,000 tickets and was a critical success in Malaysia. After the event, the government lifted some bans, allowing musicians to perform in Malaysia to boost tourism. In 2009, the Malaysian government agreed to let Muslims attend a concert by U.S. hip-hop stars The Black Eyed Peas, reversing an earlier ban imposed because the show was sponsored by an alcoholic beverage company. The government did not give further details on the U-turn, which had caused an outcry in the Muslim-majority nation. The protest reflects growing conflicts between moderate and conservative Muslims, including many occupying positions of power in the government and judiciary, in a country that has long been considered a moderate society in the Islamic world. Shows by Gwen Stefani and Beyoncé Knowles have also faced protests by conservative Muslims over immodest clothing, forcing the artists to don attire that revealed little skin. Moderate Muslims, Chinese, Indians and other non-Muslims criticised conservative Muslims, calling them "narrow-minded" in the wake of these events. In 2010, the Wonder Girls were allowed to return to Malaysia for MTV World Stage Live in Malaysia, along with Katy Perry, despite her songs and clothing being too "sexy" for the Malaysian teenagers. Adam Lambert scheduled concert in Malaysia was given the green light amid moderate protests from fundamental Muslims over controversies pertaining to his sexuality.

Film and cinema

The two main cinema operators in Malaysia, Golden Screen Cinemas and Tanjung Golden Village, are known to be strict in ensuring that only patrons aged 18 and above are allowed to view films rated 18SG, 18PL, 18PA or 18SX. Although movies shown in Malaysian cinemas are given a rating such as 18SG or 18PL, most of the time profanity and nudity in films which have an 18+ rating are censored, which renders the 18+ rating meaningless and strict entry by the cinema operators pointless. On the other hand, there have been many 18+ films filled with profanity that were hardly censored or uncensored. This shows a pattern of irregularity and inconsistency with the movie censorship in Malaysia.

Censorship guidelines for locally produced films were loosened in March 2010, the first revision since 1994, allowing movies with graphic violence and profanity to be screened in local cinemas, some without cuts, such as Sex and the City, Milk, Let the Right One In and I Love You Phillip Morris. Minimal cuts are applied to some films; such cases can be seen in movies such as Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Saw VI, Chloe, Antichrist and Piranha 3D.

The rating system for movies shown in Malaysian cinemas was introduced in 1996 and the classification system for approved films is as follows:

• U (Umum: "General Audiences") - For general audiences. (Used by the majority of films screened in Malaysia until 2008.)

• PG-13 - Children under 13 not admitted unless accompanied by an adult. (Introduced in 2006, this became the official Malaysian motion picture rating system in 2008.)

• 18SG (Seram, Ganas: "Graphic Violence and Horror/Terror") - Under 18 requires an accompanying adult. Film may contain strong violence, gore or horror/terror people may find objectionable.

• 18SX (Seks: "Sexual Content") - Under 18 requires an accompanying adult. Film may contain sex scenes, nudity or sexual dialogue/references people may find objectionable.

• 18PA (Politik, Agama: "Strong Religious or Political Elements") - Under 18 requires accompanying adult. Film may contain elements which include religious, social or political aspects people may find objectionable. (Rarely used.)

• 18PL (Pelbagai: "Various") - Under 18 requires accompanying adult. Film may contain strong violence, gore, horror/terror, sex scenes, nudity, sexual dialogues/references, religious, social or political aspects people may find objectionable. (The majority of the 18+ movies use this rating. For example, a film with sex scenes and strong violence will be classified as 18PL.)

Television

Ownership of satellite receivers other than those provided by Astro is illegal without a license (which in itself is difficult and prohibitively expensive to obtain). Owners of such receivers without a license can face confiscation of equipment as well as a hefty fine if discovered. This is enforced through tip-offs, and owners can be found out quite easily, as many of these receivers rely on dishes that are significantly bigger than those provided by Astro.

In other aspects, kissing onscreen on local networks is prohibited, as are homosexuality, nudity and extremely graphic violence. Profanity is often muted out as well. For a short time in the early 2000s, images of pigs on terrestrial TV were also censored, although images of pigs are now apparently allowed, and there was no such censorship on satellite/cable TV. Satellite networks cannot be censored in the country due to contractual rights. It is the network's duty to ensure that the feed provided to cable and satellite providers in the country is clean of all banned content. Therefore, the Malaysian feed of most channels is often the one meant for conservative areas, i.e. Taiwan and Indonesia.

Shows like Prime with Mandawe and Capote showed they were kissing on TV. The show was banned til they transferred to Philippines and made the prime review center.

Censorship of nudity

Books, magazines and prints containing nudity (including nudity of aboriginal peoples) are censored manually by shading areas in black ink. Some books are made decent by removing entire pages.

List of works banned in Malaysia

Books banned

Silverfish Books in Kuala Lumpur has reported on the censorship of foreign books in Malaysia. They have discovered the censorship of Czech author Milan Kundera, the banning of works by Khalil Gibran, Chinua Achebe, and Iris Chang, and the restriction of books by Rushdie and many others. They also managed to get a list of some of the restricted books from one of their distributors. The list includes literary fiction (e.g. work from Salman Rushdie, Irvine Welsh, Anthony Burgess, Rebecca Wells), a fantasy novel by Robert Jordan, children’s books (e.g. SpongeBob Squarepants and Dora the Explorer titles).

Censored comics include It's a Good Life, If You Don't Weaken and The Best of Drawn and Quarterly. Censorship of nonfiction varies; it includes academic works such as: Mao: A Life and Making Globalization Work, as well as a host of books dealing with human bodies and/or sexuality, such as The Vagina Monologues, Breastfeeding Your Baby: Revised Edition and How to Talk to Your Child About Sex.

Films banned

All of the movies listed below were banned at some point in time, although many were later allowed to be televised on cable networks and/or released on DVD.

This list is only meant to be illustrative, not comprehensive.

• Prince of Egypt, Schindler's List, Saving Private Ryan
• Daredevil
• The Hangover, Boogie Nights, Step Brothers, The Big Sleep, Hustle and Flow, Beavis and Butthead Do America, Zoolander, The Ten Commandments, South Park Bigger Better and Uncut, Final Destination
• Bruno, Saw, Saw II, Saw III, Sin City, Brokeback Mountain, 40 Year Old Virgin, Babe, Babe: Pig in the City
• The Last Communist

Television shows banned

Among the titles that were blacklisted include:

• "The Queen Bee" episode on Ally McBeal
• "The Video Tape" and "But I'm A Cheerleader", two Friends episodes

External links

• Pulpmovie's Gagwatch
• List of banned books in Malaysia