Lifting ban on G25 book: I can’t decide on my own, says Muhyiddin

The G25 group of prominent former civil servants is appealing against the ban on their book, ‘Breaking The Silence: Voices of Moderation: Islam in a Constitutional Democracy’.

KUALA LUMPUR: The home ministry is not an authority on books that touch on Islamic teachings, minister Muhyiddin Yassin said yesterday.

Muhyiddin confirmed receiving a representation from the G25 group of prominent former civil servants for the Pakatan Harapan government to lift a ban imposed on their book by the previous administration.

He said he had also met the group’s spokesman, Noor Farida Ariffin.

“You see, I will have to refer to many authorities. It is not just for the home minister to make a decision.

“The book is a matter of interest to Muslims as well as non-Muslims. It touches on Islamic teachings and akidah (faith), something the ministry is not an authority on.

“We need to look at this carefully before we can decide on whether to lift the ban or stick to the earlier decision,” he said at a press conference after launching the Malay version of Setiawangsa MP Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad’s book on the 14th general election here today.

The G25 book is named “Breaking The Silence: Voices of Moderation: Islam in a Constitutional Democracy”.

G25 had filed a review against former home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi over the previous government’s decision to ban the book in June 2017.

The government then said the publication was likely to be prejudicial to public order and likely to alarm public opinion.

However, G25 said the government had no authority to ban the book under Section 7 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act.

The book, published in December 2015, discusses the impact of Islamic bureaucracy in Malaysia and its consistency with the provisions of the Federal Constitution.

It also addresses the socio-political dimensions and cultural-economic implications on Malaysian society.

On the ban imposed on other books, such as US-based Turkish scholar Mustafa Akyol’s “Islam Without Extremes: A Muslim Case For Liberty” and its Malay translation, Muhyiddin gave an assurance that the government would be fair and reasonable.

The Pagoh MP said with every single book, there must be a certain basis as to why a ban had been imposed.

“Of course, as much as PH is a government following what it believes is important in terms of human rights and freedom of speech, certain issues and factors need to be considered.

“Most importantly, we must make sure it will not affect relations among the various racial and religious groups in society.

“We will be fair and reasonable. But that does not mean to say we agree with whatever people do. There are certain overarching principles that we look at very seriously,” he added. - FMT