/akn/my/act/act/1953/259
*INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS ACT 1953
The full official text, structured for quick navigation. Copy any provision or jump straight to a section.
- Type
- Act
- Status
- In force
- Enacted
- 1953
- Sections
- 9
- Languages
- EN · MS
Quick answer
About this act
*INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS ACT 1953 is Malaysia Act, cited as Act 259 1953, currently marked in force and first recorded in 1953.
Opening note
Preamble
- An Act to suppress indecent advertisements and advertisements relating to the treatment of venereal disease. [30 April 1953] Short title and application
Section 2
In this Act, “Peninsular Malaysia” has the meaning assigned thereto in section 3 of the Interpretation Acts 1948
and 1967 [Act 388], and includes the Federal Territory.
Section 3
Indecent or obscene pictures or printed or written matter
Whoever affixes to or inscribes on any house, building, wall, hoarding, gate, fence, pillar, post, board, tree or any other thing whatsoever, so as to be visible to a person being in or passing along any public place, or public road, or footpath, and whoever affixes to or inscribes on any public urinal, or delivers or attempts to deliver or exhibits to any inhabitant or to any person being in or passing along any public place, or public road, or footpath, or exhibits to public view in the window of any house or shop, any picture or printed or written matter which is of an indecent or obscene nature, shall, on
6 Laws of Malaysia ACT 259
conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month and to a fine not exceeding fifty ringgit.
Section 4
Persons sending others to do the acts punishable under section 3
Whoever gives or delivers to any other person any such pictures, or printed or written matter mentioned in section 3 with the intent that the same, or some one or more thereof, should be affixed, inscribed, delivered, or exhibited as therein mentioned, shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months and to a fine not exceeding one hundred ringgit.
Section 5
Advertisements as to syphilis, etc., declared indecent
Any advertisement relating to venereal disease, nervous debility, or other complaint or infirmity arising from or relating to sexual intercourse, and any advertisement claiming for any preparation aphrodisiac properties, shall be deemed to be printed or written matter of an indecent nature within the meaning of section 3, if such advertisement is published to the public by any means or is affixed to or inscribed on any house, building, wall, hoarding, gate, fence, pillar, post, board, tree or other thing whatsoever, so as to be visible to a person being in or passing along any public place, public road, or footpath, or is affixed to or inscribed on any public urinal, or is delivered or attempted to be delivered to any person being in or passing along any public place, public road, or footpath:
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to any advertisement relating to venereal disease published by or with the authority of the Government of Malaysia or the Government of any
State or by any local or public authority.
Section 6
Restriction on advertisements
(2)
A person shall not hold out or recommend to the public by any notice or advertisement, or by any written or printed papers or handbills, or by any label or words written or printed, affixed to or delivered with, any packet, box, bottle phial, or other inclosure containing the same, any pills, capsules, powders, lozenges, tinctures, potions, cordials, electuaries, plasters, unguents, salves, ointments, drops, lotions, oils, spirits, medicated herbs and waters, chemical and officinal preparations whatsoever, to be used or applied externally or internally as medicines or medicaments for the prevention, cure or relief of any venereal disease:
Provided that nothing in this section shall apply to any advertisement, notification, announcement, recommendation or holding out made or published by the Government of Malaysia or the
Government of any State or by any local or public authority or to any publication sent only to registered medical practitioners or to registered pharmacists or wholesale dealers for the purposes of their business.
(3)
In this section and in section 5 “venereal disease” means syphilis, gonorrhoea, soft chancre, or bubo (lymphogranuloma inguinale).
Penalties
Section 7
If any person acts in contravention of section 6, he shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year and to a fine not exceeding five hundred ringgit.
Section 8
Arrest on view of offence
Any police officer may arrest without warrant any person whom he shall find committing any offence against this Act.
8 Laws of Malaysia ACT 259
Section 9
Repeal
The Indecent Advertisements Ordinance 1941 [S.S. Ord.
of 1941], of the Straits Settlements is hereby repealed.
9
Act 259
LIST OF AMENDMENTS
Amending law
Short title
In force from
L.N. 332/58
Federal Constitution
(Modification of Laws)
(Ordinances and
Proclamations) Order 1958
13-11-1958
Act 160
Malaysian Currency
(Ringgit) Act 1975
29-08-1975
10
Act 259
LIST OF SECTIONS AMENDED
Section
Amending authority
In force from
3
Act 160 29-08-1975
4
Act 160 29-08-1975
7
Act 160 29-08-1975
Common questions
- What is INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS ACT 1953?
- *INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS ACT 1953 is Malaysia Act, cited as Act 259 1953, currently marked in force and first recorded in 1953.
- Is INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS ACT 1953 still in force?
- Yes — INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS ACT 1953 is currently in force.
- When did INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS ACT 1953 take effect?
- INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS ACT 1953 was first recorded in 1953.
- How many sections does INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS ACT 1953 have?
- INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS ACT 1953 contains 9 sections.
- Where can I read the official version of INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS ACT 1953?
- The official text of INDECENT ADVERTISEMENTS ACT 1953 is published at lom.agc.gov.my.