Lawyers divided over banning Thomas’ book

 

Many police reports have been lodged against the book although there is rising demand for it from the public.

PETALING JAYA: Lawyers are divided over the threat to ban former attorney-general Tommy Thomas latest book, with one saying the government is overreacting and another saying freedom of speech is not absolute.

Fahri Azzat, a civil liberties lawyer, says it was just one man’s thoughts and the home ministry could be overreacting by banning the book.

“Those who disagree with him can sue him for defamation. Other than that, I don’t see what the big deal is.

“The book is not inciting any violence. It is TT’s evaluation of what he thinks of certain people,” he told FMT.

He said former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and other ministers had also written books “but obviously what Tommy is saying is explosive. And in Malaysia, no one can take criticism”.

Due to that, he said such reactions from public figures and the government were to be expected.

Fahri was responding to a report by FMT quoting sources that the ministry is was scrutinising Thomas’ recently published memoir “My Story: Justice in the Wilderness”.

A source in the ministry did not rule out the possibility of the book being banned.

The source added that the enforcement and control division was preparing a report to be submitted to home minister Hamzah Zainudin.

“The minister has the power to order a ban on the book.”

Lawyer A Srimurugan said numerous police reports had already been lodged against the book which may have violated the Official Secrets Act.

He added there may be sensitive matters mentioned and once a police report is lodged, the minister has the right and power to ban the book under the Printing Presses and the Publications Act (Section 17).

“Yes, the minister has the power to ban the book after he receives the report from police,” he told FMT.

Srimurugan also said the public had to bear in mind that freedom of speech was not absolute. “If you violate the law, of course the minister may be forced to take action,” he added.

Staff at book publisher Gerakbudaya Enterprise Sdn Bhd told FMT that the phone had been ringing constantly from people hoping to buy a copy of the book after it was sold out earlier this week.

“The waiting list is getting longer,” she said.

Several parties have lodged police reports against Thomas over the book, including his predecessor, Mohamed Apandi Ali, and retired director-general of the Judicial and Legal Training Institute Mohamad Hanafiah Zakaria.

They have accused Thomas of criminal defamation and offences under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

Selangor CID chief Fadzil Ahmat said Thomas would be called in to give his statement “as soon as possible”. - FMT