Home Minister: No LGBTQ Films Allowed In M'sia Because We Don't Recognise Their Lifestyle
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the government has never recognised the lifestyle of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 21 Mar 2024, 05:13 PM
The Home Minister said films with lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) elements will not be shown in Malaysia because the government does not recognise the community's lifestyle
Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail made the statement while speaking about empowering the Film Censorship Board (LPF) in the Dewan Rakyat today, 21 March, reported the New Straits Times.
"Any film promoting the lifestyle will not be approved for screening in Malaysia.
"Similarly, films depicting communism, Islamophobia, and values contrary to the Islamic faith will also not be allowed," he said.
He added that the government has never ratified any LGBTQ-related international conventions.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail speaking at the Dewan Rakyat today, 21 March.
Image via Parlimen Malaysia (YouTube)Saifuddin said LPF is open to providing advisory services to local film industry players
"On one hand, people say the LPF is too rigid, like a pair of sharp scissors that limit the creativity of filmmakers.
"But on the other hand, the LPF must evaluate and defend good values that will be instilled in Malaysians.
"Nonetheless, rest assured that the LPF guarantees a flexible approach to encourage the film industry," said the minister.
He said while flexibility is granted, industry players must abide by the existing regulations, guidelines, and laws.
In 2022, Disney's movie Lightyear was banned in Malaysia because it featured a homosexual female character
In 2017, a homosexual scene in Disney's live-action Beauty and the Beast was also removed from local screenings.
The biopic of Queen, Bohemian Rhapsody, was also censored in Malaysia, with some key scenes being removed from the local release in 2018.
Over the years, many award-winning LGBTQ-centric films were never shown in Malaysia, including Moonlight (2016), Green Book (2018), and Call Me By Your Name (2018), among others.
