Bid to cross-examine Hisham rejected

The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: The High Court has rejected an application by Berjaya Books Sdn Bhd to call Home Minister Datuk Hishammuddin Hussein for cross-examination in its judicial review application to challenge the seizure of Irshad Manji’s book by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department (Jawi).

High Court (Appellate and Special Powers) judge Justice Zaleha Yusof also dismissed the application to cross-examine Prime Minister’s Department’s Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom and his deputy Datuk Dr Mashitah Ibrahim, saying that all their affidavits were sufficient.

Berjaya Books, which owns Borders bookstore, had applied to cross-examine them as there were apparently conflicting statements in their affidavits.

Lead counsel Rosli Dahlan told reporters later that he would file an appeal.

The case had been fixed for hearing on March 11.

On June 25 last year, Berjaya Books and two of its employees obtained leave for a judicial review to challenge Jawi’s seizure of the book.

They are seeking, among others, a certiorari order to quash the decision by Jawi officers in raiding, searching and seizing Irshad Manji’s books – Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta and Allah, Liberty and Love – at the Borders bookstore at The Gardens Mall on May 23 last year.