Islam forms the largest single religious group in Malaysia, practiced
by around 60% of the population. Islam prohibits gambling and alcohol
consumption. However, because Malaysia is also a multicultural society,
these restrictions were only limited to national mass media such as television
and prints that are targeted at the Malays. Other media such as Chinese,
English and Hindu language newspapers and magazines were
allowed to carry both gambling and alcohol advertisements provided that
the advertisements do not encourage the readers to gamble nor increase
alcohol consumption.