PETALING JAYA: The home ministry has banned two publications for “promoting” homosexuality and pornography.
In a statement today, home ministry secretary-general Wan Ahmad Dahlan Abdul Aziz said a book titled “Gay is OK! A Christian Perspective” was seen as trying to promote the homosexual culture in Malaysia – which he said went against the religious and cultural sensitivities of the country.
“The practice is clearly forbidden and is contrary to all religious teachings including Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Hinduism,” he said.
The book, which was published in 2013, focuses on subjects related to gender and sexuality as well as religion. The author, who is also a pastor, argues that several verses in the Bible have been wrongly employed and misused by Christians to condemn gays and lesbians.
Meanwhile, a book titled “Peichi” has been banned for containing pornographic and immoral content that is contrary to the cultural values and norms of Malaysian society.
He added that the books were banned because they contained content that might be detrimental to public order, morals and public interest.
The ban is in accordance with Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act, which prohibits the printing, production, reproduction, publication, importation, sale, distribution or ownership of the publications in Malaysia.
Anyone who commits an offence under the said section of the Act can be fined up to RM20,000, face a jail term of up to three years, or both.