The film release of the '50 Shades of Grey' movie on February 12 in Malaysia has been cancelled after the country's censorship board (Malaysian Film Censorship Board) deemed it unacceptable for viewing.

The board chairman Abdul Halim Abdul Hamid said that the film was more reminiscent of pornography than it was a movie. In a report at Mail Online, he explained the board's rationale behind the decision. "The board made a decision in view of the film containing scenes that are not of natural sexual content. The content is more sadistic, featuring scenes of a woman being tied to a bed and whipped," he said.

Malaysia is one of the world's most morally conservative countries, and it is especially sensitive concerning issues pertaining to sex, alcohol, and gambling. Based on a poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, as reported in an article by MalayMail Online, Malaysia is strongly opposed to the use of contraceptives, extramarital affairs, premarital affairs, homosexuality, and abortion. The poll also indicated that sex education classes in the country focus on teaching abstinence rather than using contraceptives.

A movie like '50 Shades of Grey', more than likely, would have met strong opposition and generated outright protest had it been released in conservative Malaysia. The erotic novel is rife with sexually themed imagery, but what may have been even more unappealing was the sadomasochistic theme of the sexual fantasy.

The film features Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele and Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey. Onscreen, the pair will feature in a substantial amount of nudity and strong sexual imagery, as written in the novel by its author EL James. Reports indicate that around 20% of the movie will be comprised of sex scenes involving the two lovers. Johnson herself has described the movie as being very "intense".