Gay is OK! book ban
Gay is OK! book ban
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Discrimination and Violence
Freedom of Expression
November 14, 2024
The book Gay is OK! A Christian Perspective by Pastor Oyoung, published by Gerakbudaya in 2013, was banned by the Ministry of Home Affairs on the grounds that it was likely to be prejudicial to public order, morality and the public interest.
The ban was ordered under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 [Act 301] and made effective on 27 November 2020.
Gerakbudaya filed a judicial review against the Ministry of Home Affairs and Government of Malaysia by Gerakbudaya (publisher) and Pastor Oyoung or Ngeo Boon Lin (writer).
Details of the case are available here.
Timeline
September, 2013
Gay is OK!: A Christian Perspective published
Gay is OK!: A Christian Perspective by Pastor Oyoung, was published by Gerakbudaya.
Parts of the book were previously published in Malaysia between September 2010 and April 2011.
February 18, 2020
Book identified by Ministry of Home Affairs
An enforcement assistant of the Regulatory and Enforcement Division at the Ministry of Home Affairs found the book during a random inspection of the Gerakbudaya bookstore.
A copy was purchased for review.
November 17, 2020
Gay is OK!: A Christian Perspective is banned
The Ministry of Home Affairs ordered a ban on the book under the Printing Presses and Publications (Control of Undesirable Publications) (No.3) Order 2020, P.U.(A) 340.
The ban was made effective on 27 November on the grounds that the book was likely to be prejudicial to public order, morality and public interest. Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 [Act 301] empowers the Minister to make the order.
February 22, 2022
KL Hight Court quashes ban
The Kuala Lumpur High Court quashes the ban by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
The court also ordered the respondents, Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin and the government to pay costs of RM5,000.
May 8, 2023
Court of Appeal hears MOHA’s appeal
The Court of Appeal heard the appeal of the Ministry of Home Affairs.
However, the panel of judges reserved its decision