Hindraf members now fear coming under the
sedition dragnet, after the Home Ministry took a copy of a book which
contains writings by its leader P Uthayakumar.
The book titled Torture in Malaysian Prisons: Who You Didn’t Know and Need to Know to Act is a compilation of letters, memoranda and commentaries written by Uthayakumar about prison living conditions.
Hindraf supporter M Varatharajoo, who had compiled the contents, said an officer from the Home Ministry’s Publications Control and Quranic Text Division had first asked for copies of the book from the typesetter.
The typesetter cum printer then gave Varatharajoo’s number as he did not have any copies of the book left.
Varatharajoo said the officer, named Zulkepli Mat Hashim, had called him and they subsequently met at his office on Wednesday (Feb 18).
“But I told him I only have three copies, so I could only give him one,” he told Malaysiakini today.
He further pointed out that 500 copies of the book had been sent out, including to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, all ministries and MPs, as well as relevant non-governmental organisations and media organisations, in October last year.
Book 'will not be returned'
“They (the Home Ministry) must have one copy of the book. Otherwise, how did they know the typesetter’s address?” he said.
Varatharajoo added that the officer however claimed that he did not have a copy and when asked, said he will not be returning the copy.
The officer also did not give a reason as to why he had taken the book.
Varatharajoo said that the book was not seditious and that they were simply pushing for better living conditions for prisoners.
“Although an inmate might be a murderer or a gangster, he is still a human being. The government should take care of their welfare,” he said.
Stressing that all Malaysians should know what was happening in the country’s jails, he also proposed that a group of retired judges and human rights groups pay a visit to prisons every six months before coming up with a report and submitting it to Parliament.
The Home Ministry’s Publications Control and Quranic Text Division is in charge of banning books it deemed unsuitable.
Although Varatharajoo cited concerns about sedition, the book might likely be banned, instead.
Uthayakumar who was sentenced to 30 months in prison for sedition, had recounted various “horrors” he experienced in prison during the two years in prison.
In an interview with Malaysiakini after his release, he had claimed that five inmates were forced to share one toothbrush.
He also said the same dipper which they used to eat out of, functions as the container used to wash their wounds and soak their underwear.
The book titled Torture in Malaysian Prisons: Who You Didn’t Know and Need to Know to Act is a compilation of letters, memoranda and commentaries written by Uthayakumar about prison living conditions.Hindraf supporter M Varatharajoo, who had compiled the contents, said an officer from the Home Ministry’s Publications Control and Quranic Text Division had first asked for copies of the book from the typesetter.
The typesetter cum printer then gave Varatharajoo’s number as he did not have any copies of the book left.
Varatharajoo said the officer, named Zulkepli Mat Hashim, had called him and they subsequently met at his office on Wednesday (Feb 18).
“But I told him I only have three copies, so I could only give him one,” he told Malaysiakini today.
He further pointed out that 500 copies of the book had been sent out, including to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin, all ministries and MPs, as well as relevant non-governmental organisations and media organisations, in October last year.
Book 'will not be returned'
“They (the Home Ministry) must have one copy of the book. Otherwise, how did they know the typesetter’s address?” he said.
Varatharajoo added that the officer however claimed that he did not have a copy and when asked, said he will not be returning the copy.
The officer also did not give a reason as to why he had taken the book.
Varatharajoo said that the book was not seditious and that they were simply pushing for better living conditions for prisoners.“Although an inmate might be a murderer or a gangster, he is still a human being. The government should take care of their welfare,” he said.
Stressing that all Malaysians should know what was happening in the country’s jails, he also proposed that a group of retired judges and human rights groups pay a visit to prisons every six months before coming up with a report and submitting it to Parliament.
The Home Ministry’s Publications Control and Quranic Text Division is in charge of banning books it deemed unsuitable.
Although Varatharajoo cited concerns about sedition, the book might likely be banned, instead.
Uthayakumar who was sentenced to 30 months in prison for sedition, had recounted various “horrors” he experienced in prison during the two years in prison.
In an interview with Malaysiakini after his release, he had claimed that five inmates were forced to share one toothbrush.
He also said the same dipper which they used to eat out of, functions as the container used to wash their wounds and soak their underwear.
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