Is Malaysia moving towards a more complex film rating system like Singapore's?

17 Sep – A new film rating category dubbed "U – PG-13" is in the midst of being "formalised and made official", according to the Censorship Board (Lembaga Penapisan Film Negara).

Speaking anonymously to Cinema Online via telephone, a senior representative confirmed that currently the public and film distributors alike are somewhat confused as to the status of the imposition, as it is known to have been previously applied to only two films – "Jangan Pandang Belakang" and "Congkak", both local horrors distributed by Metrowealth International Group.

The citation for the category is understood to be "Untuk tontonan umum. Sesuai untuk ditonton oleh semua lapisan masyarakat. Bimbingan ibubapa atau orang dewasa disyorkan untuk kanak-kanak di bawah umur 13 tahun" or "Parental guidance is advisable for children below 13 years old" in English.

According to the representative, the new category was done to facilitate a better market for films which are "lebih berat daripada U" ("heavier" than U) but not far gone enough to warrant any of the four current "18" ratings (18-SX, 18-PL, 18-SG, 18-PA). He said that the recent Erra Fazira and Ida Nerina horror "Anak" was one such film that needed the special rating.

"Congkak" was the last film to carry the "U - PG-13" rating

However the fact that only two local titles had carried the rating so far leads some industry observers to believe that the imposition is actually a covert move to help the performance of local movies that should carry a heavier rating anyway. It is similar to the NC-17 vs. R controversy for the MPAA (Motion Picture Association of America), a situation reflecting the integrity of a governing body for film censorship struggling against commercial pressures from studios, distributors and investors.

Still others maintained the "U – PG–13" rating hides a more sinister menace. A publicist for a recent local movie revealed to Cinema Online that "more powerful" film distributors are able to successfully pressure authorities into releasing a movie with the best possible terms for its box office business, relating to censorship and distribution.

The LPF, much frowned upon by a great portion of the moviegoing public, has been the centre of a fair amount of controversy since the 90s in particular, over many unpopular decisions.