The Home Ministry has checked more than a million foreign publications from January to July this year to verify if their content threatened national security, public order or morality.

Speaking at a press conference in Penang yesterday, Deputy Internal Security Minister Chia Kwang Chye said these include newspapers, magazines, comic books and novels.

He said for the first half of the year, the ministry halted 3,589 titles, mostly English-language publications, and seized 228,831,000 copies.

According to him, the most common entry point of confiscation is the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang.

"I don't know if you believe these figures or not but see how much work (we have to do)," he told reporters.

Conservative approach

However, the deputy minister said the titles in question are subject to appeal and review and therefore may not be banned.

According to Chia, it is better to adopt a conservative approach when dealing with publications that transgress moral values.

"I agree there may be grey areas but when it comes to that it is better to err on the side of conservatism and not the other way around.

"It also depends very much on the object, art work or obscenity. When it comes to obscenity, it is clear," he said.

He also revealed that the ministry's actions are backed by authorities on particular subjects.

"For example, if it is an Islamic text, Al-Quran or (material related to the) Islamic religion, we are supported or advised by the religious department," he stressed.

Censorship laws in Malaysia are strict, especially concerning sex and politics.