Current Version
| Region | Malaysia |
| Issue | Censorship of LGBT issues |
| Status | State-enforced |
| Start Date | (unknown) |
| End Date | (none) |
| Description | Films with LGBT themes are subject to censorship or are banned from screening in Malaysia by the country’s film censorship board, while laws such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 have been used to ban publications and block websites with LGBT content. In July 2023, local authorities cut short a music festival after Matty Healy, the lead singer of The 1975, criticised Malaysia’s anti-LGBT laws before kissing his male bandmate onstage. The band was subsequently banned from performing in Malaysia, while the government tightened regulations regarding performances by foreign artistes in the country. In August 2023, the government banned Pride-themed Swatch watches under the Printing Presses and Publications Act after confiscating them from shops in May, on the grounds that they were harmful to morality and Malaysia's interests by “promoting, supporting and normalising the LGBTQ movement that is not accepted by the general public”. However, the Communications and Multimedia Act does not cover the censorship of streaming services, allowing films and series with LGBT content to stream on platforms like Netflix in the country. |
| Sources | https://database.ilga.org/malaysia-lgbti https://says.com/my/news/home-minister-lgbtq-films-will-not-be-shown-in-malaysia https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/68129/govt-to-still-censor-lgbt-elements-in-films-but-cant-control-netflix-zahidi https://variety.com/2022/film/news/malaysia-ban-lgbt-films-thor-lightyear-1235338721/ https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/activists-condemn-malaysia-ban-on-lgbtq-books https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66275913 https://radii.co/article/malaysia-concert-kiss-kill-switch https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-swatch-lgbtq-watches-jail-fine-owners-ban-3690551 |
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Revision History (5)
| Old Value | New Value (Current) | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | Films with LGBTQ themes are subject to censorship or are banned from screening in Malaysia by the country’s film censorship board, while laws such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 have been used to ban publications and block websites with LGBTQ content. In July 2023, local authorities cut short a music festival after Matty Healy, the lead singer of The 1975, criticised Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQ laws before kissing his male bandmate onstage. The band was subsequently banned from performing in Malaysia, while the government tightened regulations regarding performances by foreign artistes in the country. In August 2023, the government banned LGBTQ-themed Swatch watches under the Printing Presses and Publications Act after confiscating them from shops in May, on the grounds that they were harmful to morality and Malaysia's interests by “promoting, supporting and normalising the LGBTQ movement that is not accepted by the general public”. However, the Communications and Multimedia Act does not cover the censorship of streaming services, allowing films and series with LGBTQ content to stream on platforms like Netflix in the country. | Films with LGBT themes are subject to censorship or are banned from screening in Malaysia by the country’s film censorship board, while laws such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 have been used to ban publications and block websites with LGBT content. In July 2023, local authorities cut short a music festival after Matty Healy, the lead singer of The 1975, criticised Malaysia’s anti-LGBT laws before kissing his male bandmate onstage. The band was subsequently banned from performing in Malaysia, while the government tightened regulations regarding performances by foreign artistes in the country. In August 2023, the government banned Pride-themed Swatch watches under the Printing Presses and Publications Act after confiscating them from shops in May, on the grounds that they were harmful to morality and Malaysia's interests by “promoting, supporting and normalising the LGBTQ movement that is not accepted by the general public”. However, the Communications and Multimedia Act does not cover the censorship of streaming services, allowing films and series with LGBT content to stream on platforms like Netflix in the country. |
Show Difference | ||
| Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Description | In Malaysia there are sometimes censorship of LGBT content in cinema films by the Malaysian censorship board but it is not always enforced. | Films with LGBTQ themes are subject to censorship or are banned from screening in Malaysia by the country’s film censorship board, while laws such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 have been used to ban publications and block websites with LGBTQ content. In July 2023, local authorities cut short a music festival after Matty Healy, the lead singer of The 1975, criticised Malaysia’s anti-LGBTQ laws before kissing his male bandmate onstage. The band was subsequently banned from performing in Malaysia, while the government tightened regulations regarding performances by foreign artistes in the country. In August 2023, the government banned LGBTQ-themed Swatch watches under the Printing Presses and Publications Act after confiscating them from shops in May, on the grounds that they were harmful to morality and Malaysia's interests by “promoting, supporting and normalising the LGBTQ movement that is not accepted by the general public”. However, the Communications and Multimedia Act does not cover the censorship of streaming services, allowing films and series with LGBTQ content to stream on platforms like Netflix in the country. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://www.malaymail.com/amp/news/malaysia/2018/12/10/censorship-board-to-cut-lgbt-content-from-films-deputy-home-minister-says/1701876 | https://database.ilga.org/malaysia-lgbti https://says.com/my/news/home-minister-lgbtq-films-will-not-be-shown-in-malaysia https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/68129/govt-to-still-censor-lgbt-elements-in-films-but-cant-control-netflix-zahidi https://variety.com/2022/film/news/malaysia-ban-lgbt-films-thor-lightyear-1235338721/ https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/activists-condemn-malaysia-ban-on-lgbtq-books https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66275913 https://radii.co/article/malaysia-concert-kiss-kill-switch https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/malaysia-swatch-lgbtq-watches-jail-fine-owners-ban-3690551 |
Show Difference | ||
edited by Pizzaslices412653. state enforced
Helpful?
1 | Old Value | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | (REMOVED) | State-enforced |
| Special Status | Ambiguous | State-enforced |
Reports (6)
- Status is not correct "Malaysia has plans to censor LGBT content on streaming services: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3256387/malaysia-eyes-censorship-powers-over-netflix-other-streaming-content-amid-creeping-conservatism"
- Status is not correct "There are more gay, queer movie that are allowed but any movie that show depiction of sex either straight or gay will be banned "
- Note field is incorrect "In 2023, the government used laws such as the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) to censor/ban LGBT content."
- Note field is incorrect "Malaysia has stated that it will ban people from owning and selling LGBT-themed Swatch watches which were confiscated in May."
- Note field is incorrect "Malaysia has been enforcing its LGBT censorship laws lately by banning two children's books with LGBT themes, confiscating rainbow watches from Swatch's pride collection and blacklisting a band for performing a same-sex kiss during a music festival in the country.
https://www.malaymail.com/amp/news/malaysia/2023/02/14/home-ministry-bans-three-publications-for-immorality-lgbt/54970
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/may/24/malaysia-confiscates-lgbt-rainbow-swatch-watches
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-66275913"
- Note field is incorrect "After Malaysia banned Lightyear and Thor: Love and Thunder over LGBT content, the government has decided to step up censorship of LGBT content in the media.
In 2023, the country's Home Affairs Ministry banned two childrens' books for containing LGBT themes and confiscated watches from Swatch's LGBT Pride collection.
However, Malaysia's censorship laws do not cover streaming services, so movies and series with LGBT themes can still release in the country on platforms like Netflix and Disney+ Hotstar, albeit with higher (18+) age ratings."
edited by Muhammadaji2022
Helpful?
0 | Old Value (Original) | New Value | |
|---|---|---|
| Value | No censorship | (REMOVED) |
| Special Status | (REMOVED) | Ambiguous |
| Description | In Malaysia, there are no laws restricting to discussion or promotion of LGBTQ+ topics. | In Malaysia there are sometimes censorship of LGBT content in cinema films by the Malaysian censorship board but it is not always enforced. |
Show Difference | ||
| Sources | https://www.malaymail.com/amp/news/malaysia/2018/12/10/censorship-board-to-cut-lgbt-content-from-films-deputy-home-minister-says/1701876 | |
Reports (2)
- Status is not correct "Censorship is enforced, movies with LGBT references have to be cut before screening or aren't aired at all"
- Status is not correct "There are directives to avoid LGBT references in local TV and films unless LGBT characters repent or die. Increasingly Hollywood films have been censored or not shown in Malaysia altogether due to very brief scenes with LGBT visibility."