How is Media Censored?
Despite Singapore's modern westernised exterior, majority of the population is Asian and strongly holds their conservative Asian values. Hence the MDA has imposed strict censorship laws to protect the moral fabric of society.
Sourced from The Films Act [CS-5]:
Submission of films for censorship14.--
(1) Every film in the possession of any person shall be submitted to the Board without any alteration or excision for the purpose of censorship at the owner’s risk and expense and at such time and place as the Board may appoint.
(2) During the course of censorship, the Board may in its discretion exclude any person from the place where the film is being exhibited.
(3) The owner may at any time, with the approval in writing of the Board, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, remove any cinematograph film from any approved warehouse for the purpose of making excisions to it or of reconstructing it, or of obtaining the approval of the Board for its exhibition or of exhibiting exclusively to buyers or exhibitors or their agents. [10/98]
(4) Any cinematograph film removed from an approved warehouse under subsection (3) shall be returned to that warehouse within 48 hours of the time of its removal therefrom and any excised parts, if excision has been made, shall within 48 hours be delivered to the Board. [10/98]
(5) Any owner who fails to comply with subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
(6) There shall be charged for the censorship of any film such fees as may be prescribed.
8. In general, the Board’s classification decisions are guided by the following
principles/considerations:
• Generally accepted social mores
• Need to protect the young
• Racial/religious harmony
• National interest
• Treatment of theme, content and context
• Evaluation of impact
10. In classifying films, due consideration will be given to the artistic, educational
or literary merit of the film.
Sourced from The Films Act [CS-5]:
Submission of films for censorship14.--
(1) Every film in the possession of any person shall be submitted to the Board without any alteration or excision for the purpose of censorship at the owner’s risk and expense and at such time and place as the Board may appoint.
(2) During the course of censorship, the Board may in its discretion exclude any person from the place where the film is being exhibited.
(3) The owner may at any time, with the approval in writing of the Board, which shall not be unreasonably withheld, remove any cinematograph film from any approved warehouse for the purpose of making excisions to it or of reconstructing it, or of obtaining the approval of the Board for its exhibition or of exhibiting exclusively to buyers or exhibitors or their agents. [10/98]
(4) Any cinematograph film removed from an approved warehouse under subsection (3) shall be returned to that warehouse within 48 hours of the time of its removal therefrom and any excised parts, if excision has been made, shall within 48 hours be delivered to the Board. [10/98]
(5) Any owner who fails to comply with subsection (4) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000.
(6) There shall be charged for the censorship of any film such fees as may be prescribed.
8. In general, the Board’s classification decisions are guided by the following
principles/considerations:
• Generally accepted social mores
• Need to protect the young
• Racial/religious harmony
• National interest
• Treatment of theme, content and context
• Evaluation of impact
10. In classifying films, due consideration will be given to the artistic, educational
or literary merit of the film.
a. Generally Accepted Social Mores
Films screened must be sensitive to community standards of morality and decency, as well as social norms acceptable to the general public. b. Need to Protect the Young For the lower ratings, particular attention will be paid to content that may be harmful to or unsuitable for the young. c. Racial/Religious Harmony As Singapore is a multi-racial and multi-religious society, films that denigrate any racial or religious group, or create misunderstanding or disharmony amongst the races are not allowed for all ratings. d. National Interest Films deemed to undermine public order, national security and/or stability will be disallowed for all ratings. |
e. Treatment of Theme, Content and Context
How a film is classified depends on its theme or message, presentation of content, and the context in which scenes are presented. f. Evaluation of Impact The impact of a film or a scene will be evaluated based on the presentation, duration, frequency, degree of visual and audio details, and their cumulative effect. The impact may be stronger where a scene: • Is shown in greater detail; uses close-ups and slow motion • Uses special effects such as lighting, sound, colour, or size of image to heighten emotions • Is prolonged and/or frequent • Is more explicit than implied • Is realistic rather than stylised • Is one in which the local audience can identify with • Is visual rather than verbal or written. In addition, films produced in a 3D format heighten the viewing experience and will be assessed for impact. They may be considered for a higher rating. |