Ministry: PG18 rating signifies age classification, not zero censorship

The Communications Ministry of Malaysia clarified that films rated 18 are still bound by screening guidelines covering public safety, sociocultural norms, and morality, despite the shift from scene cuts to age-based classification.

It emphasized that content violating these guidelines would face repercussions and highlighted the 2024 Film Censorship Guidelines' role in educating viewers and protecting young audiences.

Moreover, the Malaysian Media Council (MMM), established under Act 868, aims to enhance public media literacy, uphold journalistic ethics, and offer complaint mechanisms, with government-supported infrastructure and training initiatives.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 — The age classification for films rated 18 is not a licence to screen content without restrictions, as such films remain subject to the screening guidelines in force.

The Communications Ministry stressed that the Film Censorship Board (LPF) under the Home Ministry would continue to assess film content based on aspects of public safety and order, religion, sociocultural matters, as well as decency and morality.

"Content that violates the screening guidelines, including material that could undermine social harmony, remains subject to appropriate action,” the ministry said in a written reply published on the Parliament website.

The reply was in response to a question from Datuk Ahmad Saad (PN-Pokok Sena), who asked for the ministry’s position on the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia’s (FINAS) move to stop cutting scenes from films rated PG18 in the name of openness.

The ministry said allowing 18-rated films to be screened without the removal of certain scenes represented a shift from controlling content through scene cuts to regulating access through age-based classification, rather than a relaxation of content restrictions.

It said that under this approach, films meeting the requirements could be screened without certain scenes being cut, but would be subject to strict age classification.

"The 2024 Film Censorship Guidelines detail classification categories based on viewers’ age suitability, which, among other things, enable adults to make informed choices about the films they wish to watch.

"They are also intended to educate and protect teenagers and children from exposure to content that is inappropriate for their age and could affect their behaviour, while placing responsibility on parents to monitor and guide their children in choosing suitable content,” the ministry said.

It added that FINAS and LPF would continue to work with industry players to review the film classification system to ensure it remained relevant to industry developments and the current content landscape.

Meanwhile, the Malaysian Media Council (MMM), established following the enforcement of the Malaysian Media Council Act 2025 (Act 868), plays a role in strengthening public media literacy in addressing the spread of false information, hate speech and the challenges posed by digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI).

The Communications Ministry said the council is also responsible for promoting the production of authentic, accurate and ethical media reports and content, strengthening compliance with journalistic codes of ethics, and providing transparent and effective public complaints mechanisms.

"To support the establishment and operation of the MMM, the government has provided legal support through the creation of a dedicated legal framework, as well as initial assistance for infrastructure development and administrative matters.

"Cooperation with relevant agencies also supports capacity-building and the professional development of media practitioners, including through training and the promotion of journalistic ethics,” it said in response to a question from Syahredzan Johan (PH-Bangi) on the implementation status of Act 868 and the MMM, including its functions and responsibilities and the forms of government support provided. — Bernama

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马来西亚通讯部澄清，尽管分级制度已从删减场景转变为基于年龄的分级，但18级电影仍然受到涵盖公共安全、社会文化规范和道德的放映准则的约束。

它强调，违反这些准则的内容将面临后果，并强调了 2024 年电影审查准则在教育观众和保护年轻观众方面的作用。

此外，根据第 868 号法令成立的马来西亚媒体理事会 (MMM) 旨在提高公众媒体素养，维护新闻道德，并提供投诉机制，同时政府支持基础设施和培训计划。

吉隆坡，10 月 23 日讯——电影分级为 18 级并不意味着可以不受限制地放映内容，因为此类电影仍然受现行放映准则的约束。

通信部强调，内政部下属的电影审查委员会（LPF）将继续根据公共安全和秩序、宗教、社会文化事务以及体面和道德等方面对电影内容进行评估。

该部在议会网站上发表的书面答复中表示：“违反审查准则的内容，包括可能破坏社会和谐的材料，仍将受到相应的处罚。”

答复是针对拿督艾哈迈德·萨阿德（国盟-波各先那）提出的问题，他询问该部对马来西亚国家电影发展局（FINAS）以开放为名停止删减PG-18级电影场景的举措的立场。

该部表示，允许放映18级电影而不删除某些场景，标志着控制内容的方式从通过删减场景转向通过基于年龄的分级来监管观看权限，而不是放松内容限制。

声明称，按照这种做法，符合要求的电影可以在不删减某些场景的情况下上映，但会受到严格的年龄分级制度约束。

《2024 年电影审查指南》详细规定了基于观众年龄适宜性的分级类别，该指南除其他事项外，还能让成年人对他们想看的电影做出明智的选择。

该部表示：“这些措施旨在教育和保护青少年和儿童免受不适合他们年龄并可能影响其行为的内容的影响，同时让父母承担起监督和指导孩子选择合适内容的责任。”

声明还补充说，FINAS 和 LPF 将继续与业内人士合作，审查电影分级制度，以确保其与行业发展和当前的内容格局保持相关性。

与此同时，根据 2025 年马来西亚媒体理事会法令（第 868 号法令）成立的马来西亚媒体理事会（MMM）在加强公众媒体素养方面发挥着作用，以应对虚假信息的传播、仇恨言论以及数字技术和人工智能（AI）带来的挑战。

通信部表示，该委员会还负责促进制作真实、准确和符合道德规范的媒体报道和内容，加强对新闻道德准则的遵守，并提供透明有效的公众投诉机制。

“为了支持 MMM 的建立和运营，政府通过建立专门的法律框架提供了法律支持，并在基础设施建设和行政事务方面提供了初步援助。

“与相关机构的合作也有助于媒体从业人员的能力建设和专业发展，包括通过培训和推广新闻伦理，”该机构在回答沙赫雷赞·约翰（希望联盟-万宜）关于第868号法令及媒体管理委员会（MMM）的实施情况，包括其职能和职责以及政府提供的支持形式的问题时表示。——马新社

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