Malaysia did NOT ban this film !!!

Rating: 8/10 (15 May 2005)

Contrary to popular belief, the Malaysian Government did NOT ban the film. All the Govt wanted was to edit/delete NUDITY scenes in keeping with the country's strict censorship laws (and laws against public nudity) which applies to ALL films, not just this one.
However Mr Spielberg's petulant & intransigent insistence that the film be unadulterated (no one censors HIS films, you see) meant that the film could not be seen at cinemas.
Malaysia did however allow the DVD to be rented/purchased hence people could still see the film in the privacy of their homes. The same policy applied to Mel Gibson's "The Passion of Christ" where the Government did NOT ban the film. It simply stipulated tickets be sold strictly at Christian churches only. Not bad policies & compromises when you consider that this IS a Muslim country.