Malaysia Hogs International Limelight For Censoring Faces Of Pigs In The New York Times
Pigs are not allowed to show face in Malaysia?
By Mei Mei Chu — 23 Jan 2014, 10:32 AM — Updated over 10 years ago
The Faces Of Pigs Were Censored With Black Boxes In The International New York Times In Malaysia
Malaysia Has Censored Photos Of Pigs In The International New York Times That Was Published On 22 January 2014
Image via gamespot.comTwo photographs of piglets and pigs which appeared in the International New York Times, part of a pullout in Malaysian Reserve published today, have been censored.
themalaysianinsider.com
The first photograph of piglets accompanying the story “Demand grows for pigs raised outside” and a photograph of pigs in a farm on page 19 had their snouts blacked out.
themalaysianinsider.com
The 22 January 2014 Article, Written By Stephanie Storm, Talks About The Growth Of Pasture-Raised Pork Industry In The United States
" Two photographs of piglets and pigs which appeared in the International New York Times, part of a pullout in Malaysian Reserve published today, have been censored.
Image via gamespot.comFor the last four or five decades, spotting lone pigs in a field was almost as rare as finding a hen’s tooth. But Mr. Yezzi is one of an increasing number of farmers raising pigs on hoof, in contrast to the barns and confinement stalls used in large scale industrial settings. [CLICK ON
LINK TO VIEW FULL STORY]
nytimes.com
Unamused, Malaysians Took To Twitter To Ridicule The Edits
Netizens on Twitter have greeted the recent censorship of images of pigs with a mix of ridicule and dismay today.
malaysiakini.com
The "Bizzare" Story Has Reached International Shores With Reports From Hufftington Post, Al Jazeera And More
[HUFFTINGTON POST] Malaysia Blacks Out Pictures Of Pigs In The New York Times: Pigs were the target of censorship in The International New York Times on Wednesday.
[ALJAZEERA] Pig photos censored in Malaysia: Printing company blacks out photos of pigs in International New York Times because "this is a Muslim country".
aljazeera.com[INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS TIMES UK] Swines! New York Times Censors Pigs' Faces in Bizarre Edit: Farmyard pigs have been censored in the international edition of the New York Times in a bizarre bid to stop them hogging the limelight.
The "Bizzare" Story Has Reached International Shores With Reports From Hufftington Post, Al Jazeera And More
Image via imgur.comThe Home Ministry Says They Were Not Involved In The Blackening Of The Photos Of The Pigs
Meanwhile, the Home Ministry officials said the International New York Times is not on their list of scrutinised publications. They denied any involvement in blackening the photographs.
themalaysianinsider.com
KHL Printing Co, The Company That Prints The Malaysian Edition Of The International New York Times, Says It Was Normal To Censor Sensitive Pictures
A spokesman for the KHL Printing Co, which prints the Malaysian edition of the International New York Times, said it was normal to censor certain sensitive pictures.
Speaking on condition of anonymity, the spokesman said the company normally censored nude pictures, smoking images, firearms and other images deemed sensitive.
themalaysianinsider.com
"Malaysia is a Muslim-majority country and there are certain 'understood' rules and regulations.”
He said this was not the first time that the company had censored photographs.
"This Is A Muslim Country, So We Covered The Pigs' Eyes". The Company Had Also Previously Censored Images Of Cigarettes, Weapons, Guns And Nudity.
An employee told the AFP news agency that the company was merely following standard protocol in Malaysia, where Islam — which considers pigs unclean — is prevalent. "This is a Muslim country, so we covered the pigs' eyes," he said. He added that images of "cigarettes, weapons, guns and nude pictures" in The International New York Times also get censored.
He added that the printing firm had not received express instructions from the authorities to censor the pictures.
themalaymailonline.com
Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Says There Is No Reason To Censor Faces Of Pigs
Deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar sees no reason why pictures of pigs were blacked out in the local edition of the International New York Times. “I personally don’t see any reason why pictures of pigs cannot appear in the publication,” said the Santubong MP when contacted by The Star Online.
thestar.com.myHowever, Wan Junaidi said there was no specific law against running photographs of pigs.
“During the H1N1 outbreak, you have seen a lot of pictures showing the culling of pigs in various publications,” he added.
thestar.com.my
Deputy Home Minister Wan Junaidi Says There Is No Reason To Censor Faces Of Pigs
Image via themalaysiantimes.com.myLawyer And Human Rights Activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri Says "I Wonder How Many Malays Have Had Their Faith Swayed As A Result Of Seeing A Pig's Face"
Lawyer and human rights activist Fadiah Nadwa Fikri wrote on Twitter: “I wonder how many Malays have had their faith swayed as a result of seeing a pig’s face. “Like cats, pigs too have the right to have their photos taken to show their cuteness.”
Jihad Watch Says The Move Only Inspires Contempt Among Islamic Supremacists
The endless solicitude of the mainstream media for the sensibilities of Islamic supremacists is probably meant to try to foster harmony and peace. But in reality, it only inspires contempt among those Islamic supremacists, because it is contemptible. This is the same New York Times that feared to run the Muhammad cartoons in the wake of Muslim riots over them, thereby reinforcing the proposition that terrorism works, and non-Muslims will curtail their freedom of expression voluntarily when confronted by it.
jihadwatch.orgAlthough The Government Did Not Issue A Directive Against Such Images, The Malaysian Government Has A Reputation For Controlling The Media
Press freedom remained restricted in Malaysia in 2012, with both positive and negative developments in the legal sphere and a number of attacks on journalists who attempted to document large protests
freedomhouse.org
Although the media industry is for the most part not under outright state control, the majority of both print and broadcast outlets are controlled either by political parties in the ruling coalition or by businesses with political connections.
freedomhouse.org