Thanks to MK and MKTV for carrying the press conference we had today on the seizues of Where is Justice and 1FunnyMalaysia. Here’s the video:
Some other facts: I was told that in Johor, authorities have been going round to some book vendors – not even seizing books but just giving the vendors a hard time and intimidating them. This is clear undue harassment and abuse of power! >:(
A summary of the points I/we made:
- The books were seized on the pretext of being a threat to public order. I think public order is indeed threatened. How else can we interpret detainees falling out of buildings, being blown up or being beaten, tortured and killed?
- If the government doesn’t want its dirty laundry aired in public, start cleaning their clothes, rather than shooting the messenger.
- Even after the book was published, even more cases were revealed like P. Babu and Norizan Salleh. The reason we compiled these books is to help bring these cases to light, and prevent any further cases. One day it may involve you, me, our familes or loved ones. We must stop this culture of impunity.
Two other pieces of related news today. The family of P. Babu, who I mentioned today, was apparently threatened with detention without trial under the Emergency Ordinance if they were to further their pursuit for justice for Babu, who died in custody >:(
When contacted, Malaysia Alternative Action Team president Kalaivanar, said:
“The police threatened to book his friends and family members under the emergency ordinance if they continued their efforts to publish the case in the media and go for a second post mortem.”
He also said that this is among the reasons why the family claimed the sawmill worker’s body.
After the family suffered such a loss, can you imagine this further trauma? >:( >:( Where is justice indeed if those who seek it are threatened with such abuses of power!?
Another disturbing precedent was also set in court today:
The Kuala Lumpur High Court today rejected an author’s application to quash the government’s decision to ban his book on the Kampung Medan riots, almost nine years ago.
In his decision, Justice Mohamad Ariff Md Yusof ruled that the then-deputy home minister’s decision to ban the Tamil language book, titled ‘March 8′, was valid as he (deputy minister) considered that the circulation of the book would be prejudicial to internal security and public order.
He said, the deputy minister in this case, had absolute discretion to exercise the powers of the minister in prohibiting the publication and the printing of the book, after considering views from the police and the ministry that the book would be prejudicial to internal security, and “poison the minds of the readers, especially the Indian community”.
I haven’t read Mr. Arumugam’s book, but suffice to say this is not something we’re thrilled about.
The following is the Malaysiakini article from today in full, preceeded by our obligatory how-can-you-get-a-copy of Where is Justice blurb:
1. Get one from your local major bookstore (I’ve previously seen them available in Popular, MPH, Borders, etc)
2. Order one online from Kinibooks.
3. (If you live within the Klang Valley) Place an order with whereisjustice@jelas.info, and we will do our best to get a copy to you at RM 30 (incl delivery costs), on a COD basis.
Kinibooks, which had two of its books confiscated in a series of raids nationwide this year, has condemned the action and called for the halt of harassment against booksellers.
The publisher, a subsidiary of Malaysiakini, had 118 copies of its latest books, 1Funny Malaysia and Where is Justice, seized from bookstores in Malacca, Johor, Penang and Negeri Sembilan since Jan 7.
The seizures were made under Section 18 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, as the books were suspected to cause harm to public order, morality, public safety and international relations.
When contacted, the authorities toldMalaysiakini that the books are not banned and that the seizure was to enable police officers to “analyse their contents”.
“If they wanted to review the books, they could have gotten them from us. We would be happy to give them a free copy each,” saidMalaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan.
“We want the police and the Home Ministry officials to stop the harassment of booksellers across the country,” he said.
He added that Kinibooks is sending a legal letter to the Home Ministry demanding a reason for the seizure and that the books to be returned.
Stop using back door tactics
Echoing the sentiment was Where is Justice editor, Nathaniel Tan, who said that the ministry should “just do (the review) and make its decision quickly”.
“If you want to ban it, then do so, and we will challenge it in court. Instead they are using back-door tactics to stop the public from getting the books.
“The books are not very long and can be finished within one day. I would expect the officers at the Home Ministry to be able to do so,” he said.
He, however, added that there was no legal reason to ban the book, as it was based on facts and this “will hold up in a court of law”.
1Funny Malaysia author Zulkiflee Anwar Haque (better known as Zunar) said that the action is stifling the already under-developed Malaysian political cartoon industry.
“A cartoonist’s role is to be a watchdog for the government (but) they are trying to instill a culture of fear and affect their work,” he said.
Zunar added that he refused to be cowed and that the seizures, along with that of his other publication, Gedung Kartun, have only strengthened his determination.
“I have received emails from readers from all walks of life telling me to keep going, and this is because cartoons reach out to people of all ages and backgrounds,” he said.
There’s a silver lining though, with Kinibooks boasting higher sales after the seizures begun due to the “free publicity”.
“We also have bookstores asking for more copies,” said Malaysiakinigroup business development manager See Tho Chee Seong.
Some bookstores have, however, taken the books off the shelves and are only selling them upon request.
“This is not right… Stop being sneaky and underhanded. If (the government) is concerned about their dirty laundry being aired, then do something about the dirty laundry. Don’t harass the booksellers,” said Tan.
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