Nur Jazlan: Too much film censorship bad for society
THE STAR
KUALA LUMPUR: While it is permissible for the authoities to restrict violence, sex and deviant teachings in movies, too much censorship would be bad for society, says Deputy Home Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed .
Censorship, he said, would only be carried out if the content of the show breaches the Film Censor Board's criteria.
"We cannot restrict the contents of all shows which are produced as this will not have a good effect on society.
"Society must be given the room to expand their minds," he told Ahmad Marzuk Shaary (PAS-Bachok) in Dewan Rakyat.
Ahmad wanted to know the board's move to ensure that films are syariah compliant.
Nur Jazlan said besides getting the advice of the Islamic Development Department (Jakim), the board also engages with other religious bodies such as Hindu Sangam and the Council of Churches on the contents of the films.
He said the board would snip out scenes considered a threat to peace and public order, pornographic, of excessive violence, deviant Islamic teachings or against the norm of our multiracial society.
Asked if the board could censor shows downloaded from the internet such as the controversial potrayal of Islam in Iranian-funded production "Muhamad", Nur Jazlan said that this was not possible as it comes under the Communication and Multimedia Ministry.
However, he noted that Jakim would issue an advisory if such shows caused Muslims here to deviate from the faith.
Nur Jazlan assured lawmakers that stern action would be taken to curb shows that promote Daesh or the Islamic State
