Film Censorship Act 2002
Akta Penapisan Filem 2002
Deals with censorship of films.
Read the copy (English) — PDF, 36 pagesBahasa Melayu — PDF, 39 pages
Copy of the official text captured from the Laws of Malaysia portal (AGC) on 26 October 2026. Always check the official portal for the authoritative current version. Amendments made after the official “last updated” date are published separately as amending Acts (Act A…) on the portal.
| Number | Act 620 |
|---|---|
| Type | Federal Act |
| Applies to | Federal |
| Subject | Communications, media & technology |
| Year | 2002 |
| Official “last updated” | 1 January 2006 |
| Published by | Attorney General's Chambers — Laws of Malaysia portal (lom.agc.gov.my) |
| Royal Assent | 29 January 2002 |
| Published in the Gazette | 7 February 2002 |
Long title
An Act relating to censorship of films and matters related thereto.
Contents — Parts and sections
56 sections in 8 Parts, headings copied from the “ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS” of the official text (copy of 26 October 2026). Read the full wording in the PDF.
Definitions: section 3 (Interpretation).
Part I PRELIMINARY (3)
- s 1 Short title and commencement
- s 2 Non-application
- s 3 Interpretation
Part II BOARD OF CENSORS (1)
- s 4 Establishment of Board
Part III CONTROL OF FILMS AND FILM-PUBLICITY MATERIALS (16)
- s 5 Obscene film
- s 6 Unapproved film or film-publicity material
- s 7 Detention of imported film and film-publicity material
- s 8 Permit, etc., for the purpose of section 7
- s 9 Submission of film for censorship
- s 10 Decision of the Board
- s 11 Alterations
- s 12 Retention and return of film
- s 13 Disposal of unapproved film
- s 14 Certificate “A”
- s 15 Classification of film
- s 16 Duplication of film
- s 17 Certificate “B”
- s 18 Display of mark of approval, certificate and classification
- s 19 Submission of film-publicity material
- s 20 Mark of approval on film-publicity material
Part IV APPEAL (4)
- s 21 Appeal
- s 22 Appeal Committee
- s 23 Powers of the Appeal Committee
- s 24 Board must give effect to Appeal Committee’s decision
Part V POWERS OF THE MINISTER (4)
- s 25 Directions
- s 26 Prohibition
- s 27 Regulations
- s 28 Exemption
Part VI POWERS RELATING TO ENFORCEMENT, SEIZURE, ARREST, ETC. (14)
- s 29 Appointment of Enforcement Officers
- s 30 Power to investigate
- s 31 Authority card
- s 32 Search and seizure with warrant
- s 33 Search and seizure without warrant
- s 34 Search of persons
- s 35 Seizure of film, etc.
- s 36 Notice of seizure
- s 37 Power of arrest
- s 38 Power to require attendance of persons acquainted with case
- s 39 Examination of persons acquainted with case
- s 40 Forfeiture of film, etc., seized
- s 41 Cost of holding film, etc., seized
- s 42 No costs or damages arising from seizure can be recovered
Part VII MISCELLANEOUS (10)
- s 43 Prosecution
- s 44 Jurisdiction of court of First Class Magistrate
- s 45 Offences committed by body corporate
- s 46 Compounding of offences
- s 47 Presumption
- s 48 Decision under the Act not subject to appeal or review
- s 49 Public servants
- s 50 Immunity from legal action
- s 51 No liability for loss or damage to film or film-publicity material
- s 52 Disposal of unclaimed films
Part VIII REPEAL, TRANSITIONAL AND SAVING PROVISIONS (4)
- s 53 Repeal
- s 54 Board and Committees
- s 55 Continuance of laws
- s 56 References to the repealed Act
Schedules: SCHEDULE
Related laws
Customs Act 1967 (Act 235)Police Act 1967 (Act 344)Penal Code (Act 574)
Federal Acts that this law's official text itself refers to (as “[Act N]”), most-referred first.
Version history
| Captured | Language | Official “last updated” | Pages | SHA-256 | File |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26 October 2026 | Bahasa Melayu | 1 January 2006 | 39 | abdc34eff8c6 | PDF 0.1 MB |
| 26 October 2026 | English | 1 January 2006 | 36 | 13032f5f573d | PDF 0.1 MB |
A new version is kept only when the official file changes (different SHA-256 fingerprint). Older versions are never overwritten, so you can see what the text said on an earlier date.
Official source
- Official text (English) ↗
- Official text (Bahasa Melayu) ↗
- Attorney General's Chambers — Laws of Malaysia portal (lom.agc.gov.my) ↗
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