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Films (Censorship) Act 1952

Repealed by Film Censorship Act 2002.

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Enacted
1952
Sections
28

Films (Censorship) Act 1952 is Malaysia Act, cited as Act 35 1952, currently marked repealed and first recorded in 1952.

Front matterCover and publication detailsOpen

Repealed by..

***e*00ee*eeeeee if 4.0a P:u CB) 100/02.

Act 35

CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS (CENSORSHIP) ACT, 1952

(Revised-1971)

Revised up to

...

29th April, 1971

Date appointed for coming into force 2nd August, 1971

Date of publication in Gazette 24th June, 1971

Enacted in 1952 as the Cinematograph Films Ordinance No. 76 of 1952.

3

Act 35

CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS (CENSORSHIP) ACT, 1952

(Revised-1971)

Opening note

Preamble

  1. An Act relating to the censorship of einematograph films. IWest Malaysia-Ist May, 1954; East Malaysia-Ist August, 1971.1

Section 2

In_this Act unless the context otherwise requires-Interpreta tion.

"the Board" means the Board of Film Censors established under this Act to carry out the duties of censorship of films;

"customs control": a film shall be deemed to be under customs control whilst it is deposited or held in any customs warehouse or licensed warehouse, or in any post office, vessel, train, conveyance, aircraft or place from which it may not be removed except with the permission of a propeer oficer of customs granted under the Customs Act, 1967;

62 67.

customs warehouse", "licensed warehouse" and "proper officer of customs"

shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Customs Act, 1967;

exhibition" and "presentation", with their cognate expressions, of a film include the production of any music, speech, noise, or other sound whatsoever, which accom-panies the projection of a film;

film means a cinematograph film;

Mnister"

"the owner" of a film means any person who is for the time being entitled either as owner or agent for the owner, or otherwise, to the possession of that film, but shall not include a bank through which a lilm is consigned for the sole and bona fide purpose of collecting a trade debt;

(iheye t aaKe

"prescribed" means prescribed by the Minister under this

Sandary"

Act;

"warehouse" means a customs warehouse or a licensed-warehouse.

IS. 3-5]

ACT 35 6

Section 3

(1)

There shall be established a Board of Film Cencar and appoint consisting of not less than three members, including

Chairman, all of whom shall be censors of Cinematogranh

Films appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong,

(2)

The Yang di-Pertuah Agong may appoint such Deputy and Assistant Censors of Cinematograph Flms and Such

Inspectors of Cinematograph Films as he may think fit.

(3)

The Board shall be provided with a Secretary and such clerical and other assistance as may be required.

The Board a ment ot officers.

Quorum and 3A. (1) (omitted).

(2)

The quorum at all meetings of the Board shall be two in addition to the Chairtman.

(3)

The Chairman shall have a casting vote in addition procedure of the

Board.

to his deliberative vote.

(4)

Subject to this Act,|the Board shall regulate its own procedure.

Section 4

(1)

The Board may in its discretion delegate, to any

Censor, Deputy or Assistant Censor, either generally or in a particular case, all or any of the powers conferred and duties imposed upon it by this Act except the power

(a)

to refuse to authorize the exhibition of a film in

Malaysia, and

(6)

to approve the exhibition in Malaysia of any film

With alterationsor excisions, unless the written consent of the owner to those alterations or excisions has first been obtained

Provided that no such delegation shall debar the Board from the exercise of any power or the performance of any duty so delegated.

Delegation of powers and duties.

Suby ct AS-a1+

(2)

Save that the mark to be affixed to any film author1

Ing the exhibition of the film in Malaysia shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board, it shall be lawful for all decisions of the Board or of any person to whom any power or duty has been delegated by the Board to be signified under the hand of the Secretary of the Board and every decision so signified shall be deemed to be a decision of the

Board.

Section 5

Fiims manu-

(1)

The owner of any film produced in Malaysia sna factured in Malaysia be deposited.

Within fourteen days after the completion of the productio deposit the film in a warehouse approved for the puip by the Board.

to ose fnaye

S. 5-8

1

(2)

Any person who omits to deposit the film shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding éné thousand dollars.

Section 6

(1)

No film nor any part thereof shall on importation be Importation removed from customs control without a permit from the oatf

Board. Any such permit shall be valid only for the period films from specified therein.

customs control.

(2)

Every film or part thereof Amported shall forthwith umn be deposited by the importer thereof in a warehousee approved for that-purpose by the Board.

AeusleesDmhl m actadhn wnhubiion (

(3)

Any person who removes any film or any part thereof in contravention of subsection (1), or who fails to deposit the same forthwith in a warehouse approved-under sub-section--or who removes a film or part of a film, without the permission in writing of the Board, from any warehouse approved-under-subsection-

(2)

shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding ónë thousand dollars.

(4)

This section shall not apply to any film which has been authorized for exhibition in Malaysia andoears-a-valid mark-affixed-under section 9: /n pr nkich o cap'cnd Aas bus:

olud leunee eetior.0 9@)

Section 7

IA2)

All films deposited in or delivered at any warehouse Lia apprevedunder seetion 5(9-or-6-(2}shall be stored therein for damage at the risk and expense of the owner, and neither the Board films.

nor the Government shall be liable for any loss of, or damage to, those films other than for loss or damage caused by some wilful act on the part of the Board, any member thereof, or its stafi.

Section 8

(1)

Every film which is intended for exhibition in Presentation

Malaysia shall be presented for the purpose of censórship for censor ship and at the owner's risk and expense and at such time and place alteration of films.

as the Board may appOint.

(2)

During the course of the censorship the Board may in its discretion exclude any person from the place where the film is being projected.

(3)

The owner may at any time with the approval in writing of the Board, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, remove any film or part of a film from any ware-house approved under-section 6 (2) for the purpose of el making excisions-in it, or of reconstructing it, or of obtaining the authorization-of the Board for its exhibition.

(itje)

IS. 8-9

ACT 35 8

ission

(4)

Any fAilm or part of a lilm removed with Dermi.

under section 6 (2) shall be returned to the warehon ed forty-cight hours of the time of its removal therefrorin granted under subsection (3) frojm a warehouse appro any excised parts, il exciSion has been made, shall w the said forty-eight hours be delivered to the Board, ithin

(5)

Any owner who fails so to return the film, or sol deliver any excised parts, shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a ine not exceeding dhe thousand dollars.

to

Prohibition and authori-zation oft films.

Section 9

(1)

After the presentation of a film for the purpose of censorship the Board may-

(a)

refuse to authorize the exhibition of the film in

Malaysia;

(b)

approve the film for exhibition in Malaysia with such alterations or excisions as it may require; or

(c)

approve the film for exhibition in Malaysia without alteration or exCiSion

Provided that in any case to which paragraph (a) or (6)

applies the Board shall thereupon furnish to the owner in

Writing its reasons for the refusal or for requiring the altera tions or excisions.

(2)

Where any film is approved for exhibition in Malaysia the Chairman of the Board shall, when the required altera-tions or excisions, if any, have been made, afix such mark as the Minister may direct authofizing the exhibition of that

Aahy film in Malaysia.

Section 9A

Classifica-

(1)

The Board may, when authorizing the exhibition ot tion of films. any film under section 9 (2), classify the film in such manner as it may think fit and the Minister may approve classifica tions under which films may be classified under this subsection.

(2)

Where any film is classified under subsection ()

Board shall affix such mark as the Minister may direct to D afixed to films of that classification.

.3) Any person who exhibits or causes to be exhibited an ilm classified under subsection (1)Xwithout the mark am da lhur thereto under subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence one 1in and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding thousand dollars.

onefn

IS. 10-13]

9

Section 10

When alterations or excisions to a film are required by Making of the Board. the alterations or excisions may be made-

(a)

by the Board; or

b)

with the consent of the Board, by the owner of the alterations nnd exci sions.

film:

Provided that any film delivered to the owner under paragraph (b) shall be returned to the Board withinforty-eight hours_of the time of its delivery, and any owner who fails to return the film, together with any excised parts if excision has been made, within that period without good and reasonable cause shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding ónë thousand dollars.

Section 11

When the Board has refused to authorize the exhibition Retention of of any ñilm or any part of any film, it may retain the film or fODItcd any excised part of the film until it is exported or is disposed of under section 23.

Section 12

(1)

No film shall be exhibited unless it has been Exhibition authorized for exhibition and bears a valid mark affixed ith under section 9 (2) and, where the film has been classified authority under section 9A, unless it bears the appropriate mark pre-Iorbidden.

scribed by section 94 (2).

(2)

A film shall be deemed to be exhibited when it is projected otherwise than during and for the purposes of production or for the purposes of a censorship in the pre-Sence of eight or more persons, including the operaor.

Section 12A

No person shall display or cause to be displayed any Advertise-picture, photograph, poster or figure advertising the exhibi-mentsof tion of any film unless the same has been approved by the be exhibited orized.

Section 13

Board and marked in the mannef directed by the Minister. unless

(1)

If the owner of a film makes a statutory declaration Duplicate before the Chairman/of the Board that duplicates, identical filnis die in detail, subject màtter and footage, of a film already authorized for exhibition by the Board are deposited in a

Warehouse approved under this Act, the Chairman of the

Board may, without any further inspection,,affix thereto the mark mentioned in section 9

(2)

/authorizing the exhibition of those films in Malaysia,

(2)

The

Chairman/of the Bøárd is hereby authorized to take and receive declarations tor the purposes of subsection

(1)

, which shall be admisSible in evidence in any judicial proceedings.

S. 13-15

ACT 35 10

(3)

Any person who makes a statutory declarati.

t in any particular sh on under this section which is false or incorrect in any partiounder be guilty of an ollence and shall, on conviction to the knowledge of the maker, be liable to imprisonment exceedingl

(a)

if the declaration was false or incorrect for a term not exXceeding Six months;

(b)

in any other case, be liable to a fine not excon:.

heus trfive hundred dollars, and the mark aflixed to any such' film shall thereupon cease to be valid.

Section 14

Interdiction

(1)

The /mark affixed under section 9 (2)/shall ceas of autho rized films to be valid on notice, to, that elfect being given by the Board to the person who has submitted the film/to be marked or to any person in pOSsession of the film: provided that if any such person cannot be found, notice may be given by publication in the Gazetje.

yr Mu puapou

(lgo)

(2)

On receipt/of notice under subsection (1) the person in whose possession or under whose control the ilm is shall

Raje)

penhft reut forthwith return the/mark to the Board and shall also, if so required, by the Board, return the film for further examina-tion d Untorsbf

(3)

Any person who fails to comply with subsection (2)

shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars.

Section 15

(1)

Any person who exhibits or displays or causes to be exhibited or displayed any film or part of a film or any picture, photograph, poster or figure advertising any film-

(a)

which has not been marked under section 9 (2) or

Penalties.

12A;

(b)

which has been altered or tampered with in any way since the mark was affixed thereto; or

(c)

the mark on which has ceased to be valid under section 13 or 14, shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, liable to a fine not exceeding one thousand dollars for every such offence.

a

A 2ua+)

(2)

Any Eensorand-any Deputy-eF Assistanteenoable any Inspector of Cinematograph Films may at all reaS is times enter any premises in which any film is being

IS about to be exhibited or displayed, and may exam hle any such film, and if on such examination he has reaso e

S. 15-171

CINEMAToGRAPH FILMS (CENSORSHIP)

-almds for believing that an offence under subsection (1)

ounds for believ or unde section 9a (3) has been or is about to be committed in respect of any such film he may seize the same.

Section 16

De committed

(1)

Whenever a Chief Police Officer or, in Sabah and Search for

Sarawak, a Divisional superintendent of Police, is satisfied, kauthorized unon written information and after any further inquiry arrest of which he may think necessary, that any cinematograph film concerned.

or any part thereof which has not been deposited in a ware-house as required by section 5 or 6 or which has not been returned to the Board as requiredby section 8 (4) is being sajo kept in any place, or that any cinematograph film or any part thereof which has not been åuthorized for exhibition under section 9 or 19 (4) or in respect of which the mark afixed thereto under section 9 (2 has ceased to be valid under section 13 or 14 or which since the mark was affixed thereto under section 9 (2) has been altered or tampered with, has been or is being exhibited in any place, he may issue a warrant directed to any police officer not below the rank of Inspector to enter and search the place and seize the film or part thereof, and to take into custody any person reasonably supposed to be guilty of an offence by reason of failure to deposit or to return the film or part thereof, or by reason of the dxhibition.

(2)

A Chief Police Oficer or, in Sabah and Sarawak, a

Divisional Superintendent of Polide, may without warrant,

With such assistance and by such force as is necessary, by night or by day, himself do what he may authorize the police officer as aforesaid to do under subsection () in either of the following cases :

a)

if he has personal knowledge of facts as satisfy him that there are suficient grqunds for a search; or

(b)

if he receives information orally and in circum-stances that the object of a search would in his opinion be defeated by the delay necessary for reducing the information to writing

Frovided that the name and address of the person giving hniormation is known to or ascertained by him betore he acts upon the information.

of the Board may within thËrty days from the date on which he is notified thereof, and on ent of such fee as may sb.by

Atna+/74+|

Any owner aggrieved by any act, refusal or decision Appeals rescribed, appeal to a ommittee of Appeal by lodgng

IUh the Secretary to the Board a written notice ot appet

IS. 17-181

ACT 35 12

aking

(2)

Any representation the owncr is desirous af hfo the Commiltee shall be madec in writing and hall be al included in or attached to the saidd notice of apneal 3The Secretary to the Board may, in his disere require, in addition to such appeal tce as may be prescrib any the deposit of such sum as shall be sufficient to cover e further fee which may become payabie as a result of th appeal.

(4)

For the purposes of the appeal the owner shall deliver to the Secretary to the Board any flm or part thereof at such time and place as the SCcretary may direct.

Section 18

(1)

For the purposes of this Act there shall be a Com.

mittee of Appeal which shall consist of the following eighteen persons:

(a)

a Chairman, to be appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan

Committce of Appeal.

Agong

b)

the Inspector-General of Police or a police officer of or above the rank of Assistant Superintendent nominated by him;

(d)

the Chief Education Adviser or an oficer of the

Education Department nominated by the Minister charged with responsibility for the Department; and

(e)

fourteen members to be nominated by the Minister and appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

(2)

Each member of the Committee of Appeal shall, unless he earlier resigns, hold office until the 31st December ot the year for which he was appointed.

(3)

The members of the Committee of Appeal shall elect one of their number to be Vice-Chairman thereof and in the absence of the Chairman and the Vice-Chairman trom any meeting, the members present shall elect one ot ne number to preside at the meeting.

(4)

Al any meeting of the Committee of Appeal si members shall form a quorum, and in the case ot eu voting, the Chairman, Vice-Chairman or other memoct presiding shall have a casting vote.

Section 19

(1)

The Committee of Appeal is hereby empowered to Powers of make such order as it thinks fit in regard to-the Com mittee of

(a)

the approval for exhibition of any film which is the Appea subject of appeal;

(b)

the excision or retention |of any part of the film;

and

(2)

If the Committee of Appeal on dismissing an appeal is of the opinion that the appeal was frivolous or vexatious, it may impose a further fee not exceeding two hundred and fifty dollars in addition to the prescribed fee, and if any sum has been deposited under section 17 (3) may order the forfeiture of that sum or any part thereof in satisfaction or part satisfaction of the additional fee.

(3)

The decision of the Committee of Appeal shall be final.

(4)

The decision of the Committee of Appeal shall be communicated forthwith to the-Chairman-of the Board, who-shall if necessary affix the mark-of authorization referred to in section 9 (2) or 9A (2), as the case may be, or alter er delete-the-mark, and shall take such further or other action, if any, as is necessary to give full effect to the decision.

9A,1a3,14c

Section 20

(1)

The Minister, whenever he deems it ncessary or Minister desirable, may order the, Committee of Appealkto cause to may order be projected before the2Cemmtee any film, whether the of Appeal Peeess same has been authorized for exhibition or not, for the to inspect Coirtea purpose of considering whether the same should or should

(Ad n22h not be so authorized.

As aa2/74

(2)

The owner of the film, upon receiving notice to that effect from the Secretary to the Board, shall be legally bound to deposit or project the same at such time and place as may be stated in the notice.

(3)

The Committee of Appeal/may, after the inspection, make in respect of the film any such order as is specified in section 19 (1), and section 19 (3/ Shall thereupon apply to the order.

Mat Gmuthu as the CASe

(4)

Any owner refusing or neglecting to comply with the requirements of subsection (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding

90) 3e 6ne thousand dollars.

Cs. ma be wwabe.,

IS. 21-251

Acr 35 14

Section 22

All persons cmployed in the ollice of the Board.

and all th Peani, Olicers to h mtie publie

Servants.

FM.S.

members thekCommittee of Appeal shall be deemed all to be f Apfl public servants within thc meaning of the Penal Code.

s if Car. 45.

citee Sabah 3/50,

A 7) Sk. Cap.

Section 23

Films which have been lying in any warchouse apDround under section 6 (2) for two years and the owner whereof i unknown or has omitted for that period to obtain the authorization of the Board or having Obtained it has omitted to remove the film from the possession of the Board, and films or parts of films retaied by the Board under section 11

and not claimed by the owner for export within two years from the date upon which authorization was refused, or if

Disposal of unclaimed films.

e

Asssmen hutte e there is any appeal, from the date of the decision of the a ay be tA 4+2/74

Committee of Appea), may be destroyed or otherwise disposed of as the Boárd thinks fit.

Possession of obscene or lewd film.

Section 24

(1)

Any person who has in his possession any obscene or lewd film shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding 6nd thousand dollars or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months or to both.

Deyc)

(2)

A Chief Police Officer or, in Sabah and Sarawak, a

Divisional Superintendent of Police, any Censorepy-o

/ncta 4at Assistant Censor or Inspector of inematograph Films,if satisfied upon written information| and after such further inquiry as he thinks necessary that any person has in his possession an obscene or lewd film, may without warrant, with such assistance and by such force as is necessary, by night or by day, enter and search any place where he has

Teason to believe the film is kept, seize the film or part of the film and take into custody any person reasonably supposed to be in possession thereof.

(3)

Any film in respect of which any person has been convicted under this section shall be forfeited and shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of in such manner as the

Minister may direct.

Exemptions. 25./This Act shall not apply to-

(a)

any film sponsored by the Federal Government or the Government of any State;

(6)

any film transhipped within Malaysia for delive at a place outside Malaysia;

S. 25-26A]

15

(c)

any film whether produced in or imported into

Malaysia which the owner does not intend to exhibit in Malaysia: provided that the owner notifies the Board in writing forthwith that he does not intend to permit its exhibition in Malaysia, and supplies the Board with a full description of the film. The immunity granted herein shall not operate for more than one month from the date upon which the film has been produced in or imported into

Malaysia

d)

any film, not being obscene or lewd, which is in the possession of any person or of his agent and is intended for his own private use and not for the purpose of sale, hire, distribution, public exhibition or circulation so long as the film remains in such possession.

(e)

any film the exhibition of which is sponsored by the

Federal Government pursuant to a treaty agree-ment or arrangement to which the Government is a party.

Dgo

Section 26

Any person intending to make and produce within Censorship

Malaysia a cinematograph film for exhibition within Malay.

or scripts.

S1a may, on payment of such fee as may be prescribed, submit the script of the film to the Secretary to the Board for the consideration and opinion of a Censor but no such

Submission or opinion shall affect any provisions of this

Act relating to the presentation for censorship or exhibition of cinematograph films nor shall the Board or Committee of

Appeal be in any way bound by any such submission or opinion.

oubi aia so)

Section 26A

(1)

Notwithstanding any of the other provisions of this Yang

Act, if the/¥angdi-Pertuan Agong is of the opinion that the di-Pertuan exhibition of any, film would be contrary to the public prohibit the nterest, he may, in his absolute discretion, by notification exhibton ublished in the Gazette, prohibit the exhibition of that

Agong may of any film.

film.

/pos tsepi, tncudt kuna, ch n butioial

2) Any person who/exhibits-any film, the exhibition of

Which has been prohibited under subsection (1), shall be uilty of an offence apd shall, on conviction, be liable to a nne not exceeding two thousand dollars or to imprison-nent for a term not exceeding two years or to both, and ne film shall be destroyed or otherwise disposed of as the

Minister thinks fit.

27, 28,

[List of Amendments]

16

Act 35

CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS (CENSORSHIP) ACT

52

(Revised-1971)

Particulars under section 7 (ii) ana (un) of the Revision of

Laws Act, 1968 (Act 1)

LIST OF AMENDMENTS

Amending law

Short title

In force from

Cinematograph

Films (Amend-ment) Ordinance, 1953

Ord. 63/1953 24-12-1953

L.N. 371/1955

Members of the Federal Govern-ment (Change of Style and

Title) Order, 1955 9-8-1955

Cinematograph Films (Amend-ment) Ordinance, 1958

Ord. 12/1958 29-4-1958

Federal Constitution (Modifica-tion of Laws) (Ordinances and

Proclamations) Order, 1958

L.N. 332/1958 13-11-1958

Ord. 9/1959

Cinematograph Films (Amend-ment) Ordinance, 1959 21-3-1959

.

L.N. 188/59

Act 28/1966

Cinematograph Films (Amend-ment) Act, 1966 1-4-1966

.

P.U. (A) 136/1971 Cinematograph| Films

Ordi nance (Extension) Order, 1971 1-8-1971

LIST OF LAWS OR PARTS THEREOF SUPERSEDED

No.

Title

Cinematograph

Films Ordinance, 1952.

76 of 1952

KUALA LUMPUR

DI-CHETAK OLEH PEMANGKU PENCHETAK KERAJAaN DAN DI-TERBITKAN DENGAN PEREN*

AH PADA 24HD JUN, |1971

Harga: 5Q sen

Common questions

What is Films (Censorship) Act 1952?
Films (Censorship) Act 1952 is Malaysia Act, cited as Act 35 1952, currently marked repealed and first recorded in 1952.
Is Films (Censorship) Act 1952 still in force?
No — Films (Censorship) Act 1952 has been repealed.
When did Films (Censorship) Act 1952 take effect?
Films (Censorship) Act 1952 was first recorded in 1952.
How many sections does Films (Censorship) Act 1952 have?
Films (Censorship) Act 1952 contains 28 sections.
Where can I read the official version of Films (Censorship) Act 1952?
The official text of Films (Censorship) Act 1952 is published at lom.agc.gov.my.

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