As election fever heats up in Malaysia, so does censorship and conservatism

[superadmin]

• Ban on films part of broader crackdown on activity deemed offensive to conservative sensibilities of Malay-Muslim majority, in sign polls could be called soon
  
• Local parties have long relied on race-based and polarising tactics to maintain their bases, analyst says
  

The recent months have seen a flurry of activity from Malaysian authorities, who have been busy clamping down on perceived attacks on conservative values as the country gears up for what could be its most divisive national polls that are expected to be called soon.

Earlier this year, The Walt Disney Company withdrew two of its summer blockbuster films – Lightyear and Thor: Love and Thunder – from local cinemas after Malaysia asked it to delete scenes viewed as promoting homosexuality, which is a criminal offence under the penal code of the majority-Muslim nation.

“[It was banned] because it mentioned LGBT,” Deputy Communications Minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin told the senate in August.

- More -