SHAH ALAM: The Home Ministry says six publications have been banned under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA) due to content that may harm morals.
According to Malay language daily Sinar Harian, the ministry said the six publications involved are A Million Kisses In Your Lifetime by Monica Murphy, Lose You To Find Me (Erik J. Brown), Scattered Showers (Rainbow Rowell), Punai (Asyraf Bakti), When Everything Feels Like The Movie (Raziel Reid) and What If It’s Us (Becky Albertalli and Adam Silverra).
The Home Ministry said the action taken was also in line with the Rukun Negara principle of Courtesy and Morality to prevent the spread of ideologies or movements that contradict the culture and pure values of Malaysia's diverse society.
"The Prohibition Order under Act 301 is based on the concept of prevention before a threat or harm occurs. At the same time, society also gets exposure and awareness about undesirable and unsuitable publications for general reading.
"The Prohibition Order for all the relevant publications is in line with the provisions under Section 7(1) PPPA which stipulates that the printing, importing, reproducing, publishing, selling, producing, circulating, distributing or possessing six of these publications that may harm morality is absolutely prohibited in Malaysia," the ministry said in a statement Tuesday (Jan 7).
According to the statement, any individual who prints, imports, produces, reproduces, publishes, sells, issues, circulates, offers for sale, distributes, or has in their possession for any purpose can be imprisoned for a period not exceeding three years or fined not more than RM20,000 or both if found guilty.
"The government wants to express its ongoing commitment to prevent the spread of elements, beliefs or movements that are contrary to local socio-culture in line with the provisions of existing legislation for the sake of harmony and mutual prosperity," it said.
