Censorship

Of the various types of censorship in Malaysia, Internet censorship is among them. File sharing websites like The Pirate Bay have been censored on the basis of piracy. Former Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi and current Prime Minister Najib Razak have pledged that Internet access in Malaysia will not be censored as it is up to parents to install their own censorship software and provide education to their children (provide self-censorship). Any act that curbs internet freedom is theoretically contrary to the Multimedia Act signed by the government of Malaysia in the 1990s. In 2006 alone, 56 publications were bannned by the Internal Security Ministry (ISM). Malaysia once banned the word “Allah” from the bible. However, the ban has since been lifted. Operation Lalang also referred to as Ops Lalang was carried out on October 27, 1987 by the Malaysian police to prevent the occurrence of racial riots due to the provocation from DAP leaders and press. The operation saw the arrest of 106 persons under the Internal Security Act (ISA) and the revoking of the publishing licenses of two dailies, The Star and the Sin Chew Jit Poh and two weeklies, The Sunday Star and Watan. Malaysia has a history of censoring musicians. In 2003, American rock band Linkin Park was told to refrain from wearing shorts while performing and in 2004,singer Mariah Carey was asked to cover up. The country's opposition party, the Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, urged the government to order the cancellation of a concert on August 29, 2008 by Canadian rock singer Avril Lavigne. They also were protesting when Guns ‘n’ Roses’ ex-lead guitarist Slash was performing in 2011. Of all the types of media, television has suffered the heaviest scrutiny from the Malaysian government. Like in most Asian countries, Malaysia has banned profanities, nudity, on-screen kissing, homosexuality, and extremely graphic violence from the general viewers. Shows that have these scenes depicted