{"id":40588,"date":"2025-07-04T17:37:58","date_gmt":"2025-07-04T09:37:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/?p=40588"},"modified":"2025-07-04T17:41:32","modified_gmt":"2025-07-04T09:41:32","slug":"joint-statement-no-to-expanded-powers-of-censorship-repeal-dont-reinforce","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/en\/2025\/07\/40588.html","title":{"rendered":"Joint Statement: No to Expanded Powers of Censorship. Repeal, Don\u2019t Reinforce!"},"content":{"rendered":"

We, the undersigned organisations\/individuals, are deeply alarmed by the recent seizure of books from FIXI\u2019s bookstore by Home Ministry o\ufb03cials, 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.<\/p>\n

This is not the \ufb01rst time books have been seized and it will not be the last if outdated and overbroad laws continue to grant unchecked powers to authorities, enabling them to act without transparency, oversight, or accountability.<\/p>\n

The PPPA confers sweeping authority to the Home A\ufb00airs Minister, including absolute discretion to grant or revoke publication licenses and to ban materials deemed a threat to \u201cpublic order\u201d or \u201cmorality\u201d: 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.<\/p>\n

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 O\ufb03cial 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.<\/p>\n

We therefore call on the government to:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Repeal the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, not expand it<\/li>\n
  2. Repeal the SediGon Act 1948 and the O\ufb03cial Secrets Act 1972; and enact a Right to InformaGon Act<\/li>\n
  3. Amend the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to remove Sections 211 and 233<\/li>\n
  4. Repeal the Film Censorship Act and its accompanying guidelines and adopt internationally practised system of ratings and self-regulation<\/li>\n
  5. A\ufb03rm the constitutional right to freedom of expression, artistic practice, and access to information<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Malaysia\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

    Endorsed by:
    \nOrganisations:<\/p>\n

    1. Persatuan Penulis Berbilang Bahasa Malaysia (PEN Malaysia)
    \n2. Aliran
    \n3. ALTSEAN-Burma, Thailand
    \n4. Amnesty International Malaysia
    \n5. ASEAN Parliamentarians for Human Rights (APHR)
    \n6. Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR), Jakarta
    \n7. Association of Women Lawyers Selangor & FT (AWL)
    \n8. Bees Media
    \n9. Beyond Borders Malaysia
    \n10. Biblio Press
    \n11. Bil\u00e8kBuku
    \n12. BoboKL
    \n13. Buku Fixi
    \n14. Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ)
    \n15. Cloud Projects Enterprise
    \n16. Distopia Zine
    \n17. Dramalab Sdn Bhd
    \n18. Eksentrika
    \n19. Five Arts Centre
    \n20. Freedom Film Network
    \n21. GB Gerakbudaya Enterprise
    \n22. Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm)
    \n23. Geutanyoe Aceh
    \n24. Kasi Terbit
    \n25. Kedai Hitam Putih
    \n26. Kinta Zine Club
    \n27. KLSCAH Civil Rights Committee
    \n28. Kolektif Rumah Kosong
    \n29. KRYSS Network
    \n30. Kuliah Buku
    \n31. Legal Dignity
    \n32. LINC Foundation
    \n33. Lit Books
    \n34. Maingayong
    \n35. Malaysian Writers Society (MWS)
    \n36. Matahari Books
    \n37. Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation (MSN)
    \n38. Mythologie Resources
    \n39. Noisy Headspace
    \n40. North South Initiative (NSI)
    \n41. Omorousou, Okinawa
    \n42. Panas Panas Theatre
    \n43. Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM)
    \n44. Pertubuhan Jaringan Kebajikan Komuniti (JEJAKA)
    \n45. Pertubuhan Kebajikan dan Persekitaran Positif Malaysia (SEED)
    \n46. Pertubuhan Kebangsaan Hak Asasi Manusia Malaysia (HAKAM)
    \n47. Pertubuhan Solidaritas
    \n48. PLUHO, People Like Us Hang Out!
    \n49. Project Future Malaysia
    \n50. Project Stability and Accountability for Malaysia (Projek SAMA)\u2019
    \n51. Pusat KOMAS
    \n52. ReformARTsi
    \n53. Refuge for Refugees
    \n54. Reproductive Rights Advocacy Alliance Malaysia (RRAAM)
    \n55. Republik Buku
    \n56. RogueArt
    \n57. SEASHORTS (Southeast Asia Short Film Society)
    \n58. Shuren Press
    \n59. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM)
    \n60. Sunda Shelves
    \n61. The Cross Cultural Foundation (CrCF), Thailand
    \n62. The Instant Cafe Theatre Company
    \n63. The Refugee Festival
    \n64. Toko Buku Rakyat
    \n65. Tokosue
    \n66. Underground Press
    \n67. Vallinam
    \n68. Women\u2019s March Malaysia Committee 2025
    \n69. Working Desk Publishing
    \n70. Youth Empowerment Support (YES)<\/p>\n

    Individual:
    \n1. AdiFitri Ahmad
    \n2. Adriana Nordin Manan
    \n3. Ahmad Azrai
    \n4. Alexdrina Chong
    \n5. Amier Suhaimi
    \n6. Ann Lee
    \n7. Anne James
    \n8. Arief Hamizan
    \n9. AGqah Ghazali-alKashif
    \n10. Azhar Ahmad
    \n11. Azmi Anuar
    \n12. Azrin Fauzi
    \n13. Beatrice Leong
    \n14. Benz Ali
    \n15. Bernice Chauly
    \n16. Bryan Boo
    \n17. Chacko Vadaketh
    \n18. Charis Loke
    \n19. Charlene Rajendran
    \n20. Chong See Ming
    \n21. CHONG YEE SHAN
    \n22. Chua Sieh Mann
    \n23. Clarissa Lim
    \n24. Cyril Pereira
    \n25. Daniel Chong
    \n26. Daphne Lee Mei Lin
    \n27. Dato\u2019 Zahim Albakri
    \n28. Deborah Augustin
    \n29. Dennis Chan
    \n30. Derek Ong
    \n31. Dina Zaman
    \n32. Dixon Tan
    \n33. Dr Aslan Jalil
    \n34. Dr Bahma Sivasubramaniam
    \n35. Dr Hartini Zainuddin
    \n36. Dr Lyana Khairuddin
    \n37. Elaine Tan
    \n38. ElLuqman Hayazi
    \n39. Elroi Yee
    \n40. Eryn Tay
    \n41. Ezra Gideon
    \n42. Farah Liyana
    \n43. Gavin Chow
    \n44. Gayathri Santhirasegaran (Setiausaha, PEN Malaysia)
    \n45. Goh Lee Kwang
    \n46. Jack Malik
    \n47. Jafar Suryomenggolo
    \n48. Jason S Ganesan
    \n49. Jaymee Goh
    \n50. Jenny Hor
    \n51. Jentayu
    \n52. Jerome Kugan
    \n53. Jo Kukathas
    \n54. Joanne Ch\u2019ng Yu Rou
    \n55. Jules Ong
    \n56. Kalash Nanda Kumar
    \n57. Kevin Bathman
    \n58. Khoo Hock Aun
    \n59. KrysGe Ng
    \n60. Lee Hao Jie
    \n61. Liang Ka En
    \n62. Lim Sheau Yun
    \n63. Malachi Edwin Vethamani
    \n64. Manjula Aryaduray
    \n65. Marina Mahathir
    \n66. Masumi Parmar
    \n67. Maureen Tai
    \n68. Maya Tan Abdullah
    \n69. Muhammad Adib Faiz
    \n70. Mujahidin Zulki\ufb04i
    \n71. Muziru Idham
    \n72. Ngo Tjer Hong
    \n73. Nicky Yeap
    \n74. Nini Lukis (Nini Mohamad)
    \n75. Nizam Shadan
    \n76. Nor Huda binti Mohd Izam
    \n77. Nursyuhaidah A Razak
    \n78. Pangrok Sulap
    \n79. Por Heong Hong
    \n80. Preeta Samarasan
    \n81. Rabiatul Adawiyah Md Ali Shifudin
    \n82. Rachel Chong Rui Xin
    \n83. Raymond Lim
    \n84. Rizo Leong
    \n85. Rohaniah Noor
    \n86. S. Pratheebhan
    \n87. Sandeep Ray
    \n88. Sarah Ng
    \n89. Saras Manickam
    \n90. Savita Saravanan
    \n91. Sean Ghazi
    \n92. Shaharina Ahmad
    \n93. Sharon Bakar
    \n94. Sheena Gurbakhash
    \n95. Sheril A. Bustaman<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    Visit the Joint Statement: Buku Fixi_PPPA_300625<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    We, the undersigned organisations\/individuals, are deeply alarmed by the recent seizure of books from FIXI\u2019s bookstore by Home Ministry o\ufb03cials, 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 \ufb01rst 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 A\ufb00airs Minister, including absolute discretion to grant or revoke publication licenses and to ban materials deemed a threat to \u201cpublic order\u201d or \u201cmorality\u201d: terms so vague they are routinely abused. These […]\n","protected":false},"author":670,"featured_media":40589,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[182,260,180,164,240,261],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-40588","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-civil-rights-committee","category-joint-statements","category-committee","category-statements-announcements","category-statements-of-committess","category-statement-of-civil-rights-committee"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/wp-content\/uploads\/FIXI-\u6587\u544a\u56feEN-1.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40588"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/670"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=40588"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40588\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":40597,"href":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/40588\/revisions\/40597"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/40589"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=40588"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=40588"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/klscah.org.my\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=40588"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}