HOME Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail defended talks of censorship of foreign movie streaming channels, citing the need to preserve morals and culture.
The extension of its censorship powers may now reach Netflix and other streamers to prevent the screening of content with LGBTQ themes or stories deemed to have communist or Islamophobic messages, amid rising conservatism further stifling the creative works of local filmmakers.
The internet is abuzz with comments on this decision. Some netizens are saying that the government should not coddle Malaysians, as people should be free to watch what they want. But this may not be the case for countries like Malaysia where conservatism on various topics is in force among large segments of the population.
The authorities are proposing tighter controls due to the increasing number of films with themes conflicting with Islamic beliefs.
Now activists are criticising censorship, citing arbitrary decisions and police influence.
But on social media, some users are against such a move by the authorities. User @1Obefiend believes the government is wrong in thinking the Malaysian viewers have no access to gore, swearing or nudity.
The government thinks we are all big babies who never seen gore, swearing and nudity. Why? Conservatives love policing how you should live when they are the ones with no self control. Everyone should suffer equally. https://t.co/dRslsmptJw
— Effi Saharudin (@1Obefiend) March 22, 2024
Another user stated that Malaysia has been tagged as a country where more people are surfing the net to seek porn material.
The more they’re using religion policing, the more oppression rakyat.
Already, Malaysia is one of the highest countries where its ppl surfing porn stuff on the Internet.
— Vince (@vinceleem100) March 22, 2024
User @bianchiat, adds spice to the debate, saying it is to control the narrative by blocking documentaries that are targeting the ‘authority’ and nudity and profanity automatically fall into the categories to ban.
missing the point.
this is to control narrative.
mainly to block documentaries & shows that are propensity to anti authority.
e.g., another “man on the run”, but this time starring someone from, u know, authority.
then yes, comes nudity & profanity.— Goh Bian Chiat (@bianchiat) March 22, 2024
User @sinyc believes censorship is already there on some streaming services. The person said they rented Oppenheimer on Apple TV+, and it was the Malaysian cinema version with the BM subtitles and all the censorship. – March 24, 2024
I rented Oppenheimer on AppleTv+ and it was the rmalaysian cinema version with the Bm subtitles and all the censorship’s.
— sinyc (@sinyc) March 22, 2024
Main photo credit: The Star
