Malaysian authorities banned the showing in theatres of the erotic romance movie ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, a senior official was reported as saying today.

Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid, chairperson of Malaysia’s Film Censorship Board (LPF), said the film was more like a pornographic movie.

“The board made a decision in view of the film containing scenes that are not of natural sexual content,” The Star newspaper quoted Abdul Halim as saying.

“The content is more sadistic, featuring scenes of a woman being tied to a bed and whipped,” he added.

The film was scheduled to open in Malaysia on Feb 12.

The movie version of the hugely successful book stars Dakota Johnson as Anastasia ‘Ana’ Steele, a literature student who falls for wealthy businessman Christian Grey (played by Jamie Dornan), and is drawn into his fetish world of bondage sex.

- dpa