End Censorship: Defend Malaysia's Right To Read
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Sign now to protect LGBT+ books from censorship.

Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs' systemic prohibition of literature, particularly focused on LGBT+ themes, represents an unprecedented assault on freedom of expression in Malaysia. Since late 2024 and early 2025, over a dozen titles have been banned, weaponizing the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (Act 301) to enforce a narrow and conservative definition of "public morality."

This policy explicitly labels LGBT+ identities as a "social threat" or a factor of "moral decline." The bans are sweeping, targeting narratives from all genres: from the children's picture book “My Shadow is Purple”, banned for promoting non-binary self-acceptance, to the young adult novel “All That’s Left in the World”. The censorship deepens the crisis of institutionalized discrimination. As reports by ILGA Asia emphasize, "the silencing of these stories is not merely a matter of censorship, it is an erasure of lives."

The consequences are severe, imposing fines up to 20,000 Malaysian ringgit (approx. $4,700 USD) and up to three years of imprisonment for distributing or possessing prohibited material. However, experts note the policy is often counterproductive. Political scientists argue that banning ideas is futile in the internet age, only driving greater curiosity. This censorship little more than a thinly veiled attempt at diverting focus from domestic issues..

We have to end this censorship NOW!

References
ILGA Asia: Malaysia Briefing
ABC News: Malaysia book bans aim to police public morality
Scoop.my: Home Ministry bans three more books over fears of 'moral decline' 

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Ministry of Home Affairs

In the face of ongoing attacks on cultural freedom and the right to information, we demand decisive and immediate action from the Ministry of Home Affairs:

- Immediate cessation of bans: Immediately halt all actions of seizure, investigation, and prohibition of publications under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (Act 301) based on themes of gender, sexuality, social critique, or content that challenges conservative narratives.


- Revocation of recent prohibitions: Annul the ban imposed on LGBTIQ+-themed books and other titles censored in the January and February 2025 rounds, including “My Shadow is Purple” and “All That’s Left in the World.”


- Reform of Act 301: Initiate a process to review and reform Act 301 to eliminate any provision that allows arbitrary censorship of literary and media material under ambiguous justifications like "public morality" or "security."


- Non-Criminalization of culture: Issue a clear directive stating that content addressing gender diversity, sexual orientation, and social critique cannot be classified as a threat to public order or as promoting "moral decline."


- Commitment to UNESCO and the UN: Commit to upholding international human rights standards concerning freedom of expression and publication, recognizing the vital role that diverse literature plays in education, social debate, and building a pluralistic society.

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Goal: 5,000

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