No ban on Kuan Yew’s book, says minister

PUTRAJAYA- The Department of Islamic Development of Malaysia (Jakim) has not banned a book by former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew that allegedly offends Muslims.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said Jakim had no authority to ban any book.

“That can only be done by the Home Ministry,” he said, commenting on a news portal report that Jakim had banned Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going.

The book, a collection of interviews published in January, was reportedly included in a list of 15 declared haram by Jakim.

In the book, Lee had urged Mus­lims in Singapore to be less strict on Islamic observances.

“Jakim only gives its views,” said Jamil Khir, adding that Lee’s book was still being reviewed by a censorship committee on publications with Islamic elements, chaired by Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria.

Jamil Khir expressed regret that the news portal’s action in publishing inaccurate facts could sour Malaysia and Singapore’s relationship.

“We know it could take years to write a book. So, how can we just ban a book after a short period of reviewing?” he asked.

Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha told The Star the committee would check if the book’s contents violated department guidelines.

The news portal had quoted Jakim’s planning and research division as saying the decision to declare Lee’s book as haram was made when the committee met in October.

-TheStar