Govt bans book authored by G25, deems it prejudicial

PETALING JAYA: The government has banned a book on Islam which was authored by G25 - a group of 25 prominent Malays - as it was deemed to be prejudicial to public order.
The ban on the book titled Breaking the Silence: Voices of Moderation - Islam in a Constitutional Democracy was made under the Printing Presses and Publications (Control of Undesirable Publications) (No. 12) Order 2017, and was signed by Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on June 14.
It was gazetted into law yesterday and is available on the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) e-Federal Gazette.
"The printing, importation, production, reproduction, publishing, sale, issue, circulation, distribution or possession of the publication which is likely to be prejudicial to public order, likely to alarm public opinion and likely to be prejudicial to public interest is absolutely prohibited throughout Malaysia," the gazette read.
The book, which was first published by Marshall Cavendish International (Asia) Pte Ltd in December 2015, discusses the impact of Islamic bureaucracy in Malaysia and its consistency with the provisions of the Federal Constitution.
It also addresses the socio-political dimensions and cultural-economic implications on the Malaysian society.
In an immediate response, G25 spokesperson Datuk Noor Farida Ariffin said she was flabbergasted by the news of the ban, calling it an act of repression on the part of the government.
"This book consists mainly of academic articles by leading academics, prominent lawyers and progressive Islamic scholars. I don't see any of the articles as being prejudicial.
"In fact, it is meant to encourage debates about the Islamic religion," she told theSun yesterday.
Among some of the writers are constitutional lawyer Prof Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi, Just World Director Dr Chandra Muzaffar, Universiti Malaya Law lecturer Prof Dr Azmi Sharom, and former executive director Sisters in Islam Ratna Osman.
Noor Farida said she would inform and discuss the matter with other members of G25 and explore all the options available in regards to the ban.