KUALA LUMPUR – The Film Censorship Board and Home Ministry are in the midst of reviewing the possibility of reducing television stations’ censorship authority in the process of approving films or dramas for broadcast.
Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin said this was to ensure they are under control and heavier penalties can be imposed if any violations occurred.
“All TV stations applying broadcast censorship must act against any party that disseminates without permission video clips that can tarnish their image. All broadcast stations must be responsible in ensuring similar incidents do not recur,” he said.
He said this when winding up the debate on the motion of thanks on the royal address for his ministry at the Dewan Negara today.
Zahidi also said that film and drama producers must ensure that the content complies with the film censorship guidelines set in ensuring that the broadcast material does not deviate from Islamic teachings, customs, and culture practised by Malaysians.
He said the guidelines should be in accordance with the regulations set by the board and Home Ministry, as well as the Guidelines on Content Censorship of Islamic Broadcasting Materials by the Malaysian Islamic Development Department, and the RTM Television Broadcasting Guidelines.
“The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia also ensures that local film industry players who receive the Digital Content Grant Fund comply with the terms of the contract that has been signed, namely the obligation to obtain screening approval from the Film Censorship Board, Home Ministry, or broadcasting stations.
“In addition, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission as the agency responsible for issuing licences under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 stipulates that all Individual Content Application Service Provider (CASP-I) licence holders are required to comply with the CASP-I licence conditions,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zahidi said that a total of 45 public complaints were received from 2020 to last February involving physical humiliation, of which 20 complaints were related to insults against people with disabilities.
According to him, the cases include a Facebook post by “Wan Noor Baizura” (“Kaklong Dungun”) which is currently under investigation by the Royal Malaysia Police and MCMC.
“On a joint regulatory basis, other actions include providing advice or guidance to affected parties, and submitting the said content to the social media platform providers involved for further scrutiny based on their community terms of services and standards,” he said. – Bernama, March 28, 2022
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