Joint Statement: No to Expanded Powers of Censorship. Repeal, Don’t Reinforce!

We, the undersigned organisations/individuals, are deeply alarmed by the recent seizure of books from FIXI’s bookstore by Home Ministry officials, carried out under the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984 without warning, justification, or payment. This incident is part of a troubling pattern where existing laws are weaponised to harass writers, intimidate publishers, and suppress public discourse. Censorship and overreach have repeatedly targeted LGBTQ+ narratives, indigenous storytelling, artistic expression, and independent media.

This is not the first time books have been seized and it will not be the last if outdated and overbroad laws continue to grant unchecked powers to authorities, enabling them to act without transparency, oversight, or accountability.

The PPPA confers sweeping authority to the Home Affairs Minister, including absolute discretion to grant or revoke publication licenses and to ban materials deemed a threat to “public order” or “morality”: terms so vague they are routinely abused. These powers extend to both print and online content, giving the state dangerous reach into civic and creative life.

Malaysia does not need more instruments of repression. We already operate under a dense web of restrictive legislation: the PPPA, the Sedition Act 1948, the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (especially Sections 211 and 233), the Official Secrets Act 1972, and others. Many of these laws are colonial holdovers that have been repurposed to keep a lid on dissent and limit creative freedom in our supposedly democratic present.

We therefore call on the government to:

1. Repeal the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, not expand it
2. Repeal the SediGon Act 1948 and the Official Secrets Act 1972; and enact a Right to InformaGon Act
3. Amend the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to remove Sections 211 and 233
4. Repeal the Film Censorship Act and its accompanying guidelines and adopt internationally practised system of ratings and self-regulation
5. Affirm the constitutional right to freedom of expression, artistic practice, and access to information

Malaysia’s literature and creative industries are a cornerstone of its cultural identity, economy, and democratic evolution. Expanding punitive powers will only erode public trust, suppress talent, and deepen fear. We urge the government to reject censorship-driven policies and instead embrace a bold, rights-based approach that protects freedom of expression and strengthens our democracy.

Endorsed by:
Organisations:

1. Persatuan Penulis Berbilang Bahasa Malaysia (PEN Malaysia)
2. Aliran
3. ALTSEAN-Burma, Thailand
4. Amnesty International Malaysia
5. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)
6. Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR), Jakarta
7. Association of Women Lawyers Selangor & FT (AWL)
8. Bees Media
9. Beyond Borders Malaysia
10. Biblio Press
11. BilèkBuku
12. BoboKL
13. Buku Fixi
14. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
15. Cloud Projects Enterprise
16. Distopia Zine
17. Dramalab Sdn Bhd
18. Eksentrika
19. Five Arts Centre
20. Freedom Film Network
21. GB Gerakbudaya Enterprise
22. Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm)
23. Geutanyoe Aceh
24. Kasi Terbit
25. Kedai Hitam Putih
26. Kinta Zine Club
27. KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee
28. Kolektif Rumah Kosong
29. KRYSS Network
30. Kuliah Buku
31. Legal Dignity
32. LINC Foundation
33. Lit Books
34. Maingayong
35. Malaysian Writers Society (MWS)
36. Matahari Books
37. Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN)
38. Mythologie Resources
39. Noisy Headspace
40. North South Initiative (NSI)
41. Omorousou, Okinawa
42. Panas Panas Theatre
43. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
44. Pertubuhan Jaringan Kebajikan Komuniti (JEJAKA)
45. Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Persekitaran Positif Malaysia (SEED)
46. Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (HAKAM)
47. Pertubuhan Solidaritas
48. PLUHO, People Like Us Hang Out!
49. Project Future Malaysia
50. Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek SAMA)’
51. Pusat KOMAS
52. ReformARTsi
53. Refuge for Refugees
54. Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM)
55. Republik Buku
56. RogueArt
57. SEASHORTS (Southeast Asia Short Film Society)
58. Shuren Press
59. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
60. Sunda Shelves
61. The Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF), Thailand
62. The Instant Cafe Theatre Company
63. The Refugee Festival
64. Toko Buku Rakyat
65. Tokosue
66. Underground Press
67. Vallinam
68. Women’s March Malaysia Committee 2025
69. Working Desk Publishing
70. Youth Empowerment Support (YES)

Individual:
1. AdiFitri Ahmad
2. Adriana Nordin Manan
3. Ahmad Azrai
4. Alexdrina Chong
5. Amier Suhaimi
6. Ann Lee
7. Anne James
8. Arief Hamizan
9. AGqah Ghazali-alKashif
10. Azhar Ahmad
11. Azmi Anuar
12. Azrin Fauzi
13. Beatrice Leong
14. Benz Ali
15. Bernice Chauly
16. Bryan Boo
17. Chacko Vadaketh
18. Charis Loke
19. Charlene Rajendran
20. Chong See Ming
21. CHONG YEE SHAN
22. Chua Sieh Mann
23. Clarissa Lim
24. Cyril Pereira
25. Daniel Chong
26. Daphne Lee Mei Lin
27. Dato’ Zahim Albakri
28. Deborah Augustin
29. Dennis Chan
30. Derek Ong
31. Dina Zaman
32. Dixon Tan
33. Dr Aslan Jalil
34. Dr Bahma Sivasubramaniam
35. Dr Hartini Zainuddin
36. Dr Lyana Khairuddin
37. Elaine Tan
38. ElLuqman Hayazi
39. Elroi Yee
40. Eryn Tay
41. Ezra Gideon
42. Farah Liyana
43. Gavin Chow
44. Gayathri Santhirasegaran (Setiausaha, PEN Malaysia)
45. Goh Lee Kwang
46. Jack Malik
47. Jafar Suryomenggolo
48. Jason S Ganesan
49. Jaymee Goh
50. Jenny Hor
51. Jentayu
52. Jerome Kugan
53. Jo Kukathas
54. Joanne Ch’ng Yu Rou
55. Jules Ong
56. Kalash Nanda Kumar
57. Kevin Bathman
58. Khoo Hock Aun
59. KrysGe Ng
60. Lee Hao Jie
61. Liang Ka En
62. Lim Sheau Yun
63. Malachi Edwin Vethamani
64. Manjula Aryaduray
65. Marina Mahathir
66. Masumi Parmar
67. Maureen Tai
68. Maya Tan Abdullah
69. Muhammad Adib Faiz
70. Mujahidin Zulkiffli
71. Muziru Idham
72. Ngo Tjer Hong
73. Nicky Yeap
74. Nini Lukis (Nini Mohamad)
75. Nizam Shadan
76. Nor Huda binti Mohd Izam
77. Nursyuhaidah A Razak
78. Pangrok Sulap
79. Por Heong Hong
80. Preeta Samarasan
81. Rabiatul Adawiyah Md Ali Shifudin
82. Rachel Chong Rui Xin
83. Raymond Lim
84. Rizo Leong
85. Rohaniah Noor
86. S. Pratheebhan
87. Sandeep Ray
88. Sarah Ng
89. Saras Manickam
90. Savita Saravanan
91. Sean Ghazi
92. Shaharina Ahmad
93. Sharon Bakar
94. Sheena Gurbakhash
95. Sheril A. Bustaman

Visit the Joint Statement: Buku Fixi_PPPA_300625