Kuala Lumpur: The Film Censorship Board (LPF) has adopted a more open approach to film censorship in recent years, including allowing films classified 16 and 18 to be screened without scenes being cut, according to the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas).
Finas Chief Executive Officer Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib said LPF had moved towards greater openness over the past two to three years, in line with efforts to provide greater creative space for the film industry.
“For the 18 and 16 classifications, they no longer cut scenes, but instead allow the films to be screened while stipulating that children cannot attend,” he said after the opening of Menara Finas Damansara.
Azmir described the change as a progressive step that Finas wanted LPF to continue pursuing, with age classifications used to determine the appropriate audiences for films.
However, he stressed that greater creative freedom should not come at the expense of Malaysian culture and identity, saying these should remain important elements in producing content capable of reaching international audiences.
