Government bars approval for ‘unhealthy’ books
KUALA LUMPUR: The Government will no longer approve applications to import and publish reading material that contains elements “calculated to entertain by frightening.”
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Chor Chee Heung said the books that would fall within the definitions of mystery, mysticism, fantasy (khayalan), occultism (khurafat) and superstition (tahyul) were those which were “ghostly” and “touched on the supernatural.”
“These materials will create an unhealthy picture on the minds of the readers, and influence them by such far-fetched ghostly stories,” he said.
Chor said titles such as Harry Potter would not be affected as they were deemed to be “benign”.
He advised publishers or importers to consult his ministry's publication department if there was any doubt whether a certain title fell within the definitions.
Earlier while launching the international printing, paper and packaging machinery exhibition IPMEX Malaysia 2003 at Putra World Trade Centre here yesterday, Chor said the new regulation did not mean that such publications were banned.
Those whose applications were approved earlier would still be allowed to import and publish such materials, he said.
Chor also warned companies not to publish, print or import magazines, novels and comics that contain elements of sex and violence.
“I have been told that lately, there have been comics in Chinese which contain pictures and texts which contain sexual elements,” he said, adding that the ministry had taken action against the importers.
He said those found guilty under the Publication and Printing Presses Act could be sentenced up to three years' imprisonment or fined up to RM20,000 or both.
On another matter, Chor warned Falun Gong spiritual movement followers here to stop distributing brochures and literature containing political and seditious elements.
He believed that those distributing such materials, some of which touched on the political situation in China and Malaysia, were being used by others.
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