In a recent raid, Malaysia's Ministry of Home Affairs confiscated horror novels from Fixi, a Kuala Lumpur bookstore, citing violations of public morality standards.

PEN Malaysia, a free speech advocacy group, condemned the raid, arguing that it infringes on the essential rights to publish and sell literary works, which are crucial for democratic debate.

Amir Muhammad, the founder of Fixi, highlighted that this incident marks the fourth occurrence of such censorship, underscoring ongoing issues related to artistic freedom in the country.

This year alone, Malaysia has banned at least 13 books, including those addressing gender and sexuality, such as My Shadow is Purple by Scott Stuart, due to concerns over morality.

The country has recorded the highest number of violations of artistic freedom in Southeast Asia, with censorship increasingly targeting LGBTQ-themed literature.

Under Malaysian law, distributing banned literature can result in severe penalties, including up to three years in prison and hefty fines.

The risks associated with controversial publications are illustrated by the detention of journalist Kean Wong, who was arrested for editing a banned book about Malaysia's historic 2018 elections.

Political scientists suggest that book bans are part of broader efforts to maintain societal stability and distract the public from pressing internal political issues.

Experts argue that censorship in Malaysia undermines democratic values, often proving counterproductive as it tends to spark greater public curiosity.

Among the confiscated titles was Jelik, written by Ismi Fa Ismail, which follows twin brothers who disappear while filming a documentary and contains graphic psychological themes.