The home ministry has been accused of practising double standards in banning a book on Kadazan icon Peter J Mojuntin as potentially detrimental to religious harmony.
Penampang MP Darell Leiking in a statement today said it is shocking that the biography of the former minister be banned, whereas the book ‘Pendedahan Agenda Krisitian’ (Exposing the Christian Agenda) which allegedly attacks Malaysia’s Christian community, is allowed.
‘Golden Son of the Kadazan’, an autobiography on the life and struggles of Sabah icon and and former Moyog assemblyperson Peter J Mojuntin who died in the air crash of 1976, has been banned for 36 years.
Lieking had submitted a written question to Parliament inquiring why the book was banned and not ‘Pendedahan Agenda Krisitian’.
"The minister of home affairs (on June 10) replied that the book had 'heavily criticised' the federal government and was deemed to be detrimental to the national security on the poor excuse that its content would cause religious disharmony between the Muslims and Christians in the country," he said.
He asked how is it that 'Pendedahan Agenda Kristian' has been allowed to be published and distributed freely without being deemed to be "causing religious misunderstanding and disharmony".
The latter, published by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) was even distributed at a recent Christology seminar hosted by Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) as research, he said.
“I am inclined to believe that there is much more than meets the eye in this particular case as the minister seems to have a 'strange' reason for what causes and does not cause religious disharmony," said the PKR parliamentarian.
Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his written reply justified allowing the Mais publication as it "talks about the manner in which the Christian faith is spread that should be given attention by Muslims".
The minister in his reply said the Mais book explained the state's battle against alleged "Christianisation and efforts to proselytise Muslims".
Lieking slammed Ahmad Zahid saying that the minister's narrow views seem to ‘condone’ religious and extremist bigots such as those threatening to burn the Bible and those giving anti-Christian seminars.
"We can always do without the religious extremists who have become the thorn and pests to our Federation of Malaysia, and the minister of home affairs must act on these religious bigots and instigators.” he said.
The PKR leader called for efforts to remove the ban on Mojuntin's biography saying it contains historical facts that can be of guidance to young Malaysians in the future.
He added that he has found nothing in the 'Golden Son of the Kadazan' that can be deemed to cause religious harmony, nor material that heavily criticises the federal government "apart from fair comments and opinions by Bernard Sta Maria two years after the tragic air crash".
Penampang MP Darell Leiking in a statement today said it is shocking that the biography of the former minister be banned, whereas the book ‘Pendedahan Agenda Krisitian’ (Exposing the Christian Agenda) which allegedly attacks Malaysia’s Christian community, is allowed.
‘Golden Son of the Kadazan’, an autobiography on the life and struggles of Sabah icon and and former Moyog assemblyperson Peter J Mojuntin who died in the air crash of 1976, has been banned for 36 years.
Lieking had submitted a written question to Parliament inquiring why the book was banned and not ‘Pendedahan Agenda Krisitian’."The minister of home affairs (on June 10) replied that the book had 'heavily criticised' the federal government and was deemed to be detrimental to the national security on the poor excuse that its content would cause religious disharmony between the Muslims and Christians in the country," he said.
He asked how is it that 'Pendedahan Agenda Kristian' has been allowed to be published and distributed freely without being deemed to be "causing religious misunderstanding and disharmony".
The latter, published by the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) was even distributed at a recent Christology seminar hosted by Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) as research, he said.
“I am inclined to believe that there is much more than meets the eye in this particular case as the minister seems to have a 'strange' reason for what causes and does not cause religious disharmony," said the PKR parliamentarian.
Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in his written reply justified allowing the Mais publication as it "talks about the manner in which the Christian faith is spread that should be given attention by Muslims".
The minister in his reply said the Mais book explained the state's battle against alleged "Christianisation and efforts to proselytise Muslims".
Lieking slammed Ahmad Zahid saying that the minister's narrow views seem to ‘condone’ religious and extremist bigots such as those threatening to burn the Bible and those giving anti-Christian seminars.
"We can always do without the religious extremists who have become the thorn and pests to our Federation of Malaysia, and the minister of home affairs must act on these religious bigots and instigators.” he said.
The PKR leader called for efforts to remove the ban on Mojuntin's biography saying it contains historical facts that can be of guidance to young Malaysians in the future.
He added that he has found nothing in the 'Golden Son of the Kadazan' that can be deemed to cause religious harmony, nor material that heavily criticises the federal government "apart from fair comments and opinions by Bernard Sta Maria two years after the tragic air crash".
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