KUCHING: Any clothing design or product that displays drug-related imagery or closely resembles real narcotics motifs can be considered as promoting illegal substances, potentially leading to enforcement action, including seizure and arrest.
Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN) Sarawak director Asydidi Hamzah said that although some may view such motifs as mere accessories or artistic designs, they are still classified as material that propagates drug misuse under the Printing Presses and Publications Act (AMCP) 1984.
“For example, if an image of a cannabis leaf is designed to look exactly like the real seven-pointed leaf, it is no longer simply an artistic pattern.
“It can be interpreted as promoting drugs, and the owner or seller can be subjected to action.”
Asydidi said this during a briefing on the 1984 Act to Suara Sarawak and Sarawak Tribune at Lot10 Boutique Hotel here today.
He added that the AMCP 1984 covers several categories of content that must be filtered, including obscene and sexual material, items containing subversive elements, and sex-related products.
Regarding obscene materials, he said such items are frequently confiscated and often involve foreign magazines containing indecent content or lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) material.
Another category includes sex items such as sex dolls and related paraphernalia, which are often referred to KDN by the Customs Department for seizure decisions.
“Some of these seized items are used as exhibition materials for public awareness.
“We do not want society to normalise such matters, especially when children could be exposed without proper control.”
He added that racial sentiments are also taken very seriously, as even minor issues can lead to major consequences.
“In Malaysia, and especially in Sarawak, such matters are very sensitive and must be handled carefully.”
Asydidi said KDN also enforces the Quranic Text Publication Act 1986 due to the high level of sensitivity around ensuring the accuracy of the holy text.
“Cases we have handled include confiscating Quranic frames with printing errors, as well as detaining individuals claiming to possess ‘ancient Quran manuscripts’ and selling them on social media for RM350,000.”
Explaining the purpose of the briefing, Asydidi said the session aimed to clarify existing legal requirements and regulations, following several issues that require adjustments and improvements within the printing and publishing industry.
“Sometimes we become so accustomed to certain practices that we forget the rules.
“This briefing provides more detailed exposure on the Act for media practitioners and printing operators.”
