(AFP) The government has banned the sale of video compact discs (VCDs) containing recordings of political speches by opposition leaders, a report said today.

Deputy Home Affairs Minister Chor Chee Heung warned the government would take stern action against those producing and selling VCDs and cassette tapes with political content, the Sunday Star said.

Chor said enforcement authorities recently seized hundreds of such VCDs in Kuala Lumpur and many of the recorded speeches made at opposition rallies were found to be spreading lies against the government.

"This is a threat to our multi-racial community. If we allow this to go on, I believe there will be chaos in our country," he was quoted as saying.

The government had previously been lenient by only seizing the VCDs and tapes but "we will now bring them to court," he added.

Malaysia's pro-government media do not broadcast anti-government rallies and opposition groups have resorted to selling recordings of speeches to get their message across.

The ban also comes amid a police crackdown on pirated and pornographic VCDs, blamed for an increase in sex crimes in Malaysia.