PUTRAJAYA: The government has issued a prohibition order against three books deemed potentially harmful to public morality in Malaysia.
The Home Ministry, in a statement on Saturday (Feb 8), announced that the ban was officially gazetted under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 [Act 301] and took effect on Jan 21 and 22.
The three banned titles are 'My Shadow Is Purple' by Scott Stuart, 'Koleksi Puisi Masturbasi' by Amir Hamzah Akal Ali (Benz Ali), and 'All That’s Left In The World' by Erik J. Brown.
"This prohibition order under Act 301 serves as a preventive measure to curb potential threats or harm before they arise. At the same time, it raises public awareness about undesirable publications that are deemed inappropriate for general readership," the statement read.
According to Home Ministry, the ban is in line with Section 7(1) of Act 301, which prohibits the printing, importation, reproduction, publication, sale, distribution or possession of materials that could compromise public morality in Malaysia.
"Under Section 8(2) of Act 301, any individual found printing, importing, producing, reproducing, publishing, selling, distributing, offering for sale or possessing prohibited publications for any purpose is committing an offence.
"If convicted, they may face up to three years in prison, a fine of up to RM20,000, or both," the statement added. - Bernama
