Putrajaya has issued stricter guidelines to bar TV stations from airing scenes and dialogue in local productions that will tarnish the image of the government.

 

In a circular dated June 23, the Film Censorship Board (LPF) banned scenes which will "mock, make fun of, or criticise the government".

 

Politically sensitive issues are also banned in the locally produced films aired on local TV, be it on free or paid channels.

 

Dialogue criticising political parties is also not allowed.

 

It particularly stresses that scenes of government officials receiving bribes and abusing their powers are also banned, to prevent the image of the government being sullied.

 

The circular also states the main consideration in censorship is to promote security, public order, religion, social-culture, proper behaviour, and morality.

 

It was prepared by LPF official Ahmad Zaidi Mohd Ilias and signed by the board's chairperson, Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid. 

 

The circular, which took effect from June 15, covers the films of all languages.

 

'Not meant to protect gov't'

 

An official confirmed the board had sent the guidelines to all operators of all TV stations.

 

Besides locally made films, the circular is also applicable to locally made programmes and TV commercials, he said.

"This is not meant to protect the government. But it is within our culture to respect the government of the day," the official told Malaysiakini on condition of anonymity.

 

This wasn't a new circular, but instead a detailed explanation of 'Film Censorship Guideline 2010', he clarified.

 

"Before this, we had our officials at each TV station to monitor and censor the programmes. But now, we give a copy of the circular to the TV stations to help them know better what will be banned," he said.

 

In short, this is the ‘dos and don'ts’ guideline for TV operators. It’s stricter than the guidelines for cinema movies, as all ages have access to TV, he disclosed.

 

The circular also banned scenes which feature the law being broken, except when the "bad guys" get their due, he said.

 

It also banned dialogue considered erotic, vulgar, indecent, or touching on sensitive issues or politics.

 

Dialogue which criticises or insults religion and race will be banned. The incorrect pronouncement of 'Al-Quran' is also barred.

 

Also words like 'anak haram', 'anjing', 'babi', 'betina garit', 'pelacur', 'setan', 'kafir', 'celaka', 'bangsat', 'mampus', and 'barua', were banned.

 

Elements of violence, cruelty, sex, intimacy, horror, suicide, superstition, smoking, drinking, and drug-taking are also not allowed.

 

The board also banned the scenes of women wearing clothes that reveal the shape of their bodies or outline the shape of their breasts, private parts, buttocks, thighs, and underwear. However, Indian women in saris are permitted.

 

It also barred males acting as females, except at masquerades. Muslim males wearing earrings, necklaces, and sporting tattoos are also not allowed.

 

The government has also banned scenes of humans interacting with spirits in Malay films and programmes, but the ban doesn’t extend to Chinese and Tamil programmes.

 

In locally produced Malay films, scenes of 'deviant teaching without repercussions and lessons' are also not allowed, according to the circular.