Lift ban on book about Peter Mojuntin, urges family of 'Double Six' tragedy victim

 

A picture of the book on Peter Mojuntin that was banned. Image courtesy of Donald Mojuntin Facebook page.

KOTA KINABALU: The family of the late Datuk Peter J Mojuntin urges Putrajaya to lift the ban on a book about the former Sabah minister following its decision to declassify the report into the “Double Six” plane crash.

Mojuntin was one of 11 people, including then Sabah chief minister Tun Fuad Stephens, who were killed when the Australian-made Nomad aircraft 9M-ATZ they were flying in crashed in Sembulan here on June 6, 1976.

Mojuntin’s son, Datuk Donald Mojuntin, said with the historic decision by the Federal Government to make the report public, his family hoped the Cabinet would also lift the ban on the publication and distribution of the book titled “The Golden Son of the Kadazan”.

“(This is) a book that gives us a glimpse of Datuk Peter as a revered leader in Sabah politics,” he said on Wednesday (April 5).

“We do not know of any reasonable justification in banning the book nor were we given any reasonable explanation for it.

“We implore our most honourable Prime Minister and his Cabinet to continue doing the right thing,” Donald added.

Anwar had earlier on Wednesday announced that the full report on the crash would be released by the Transport Ministry next week.

The premier added that the Cabinet had decided this was in the interest of the victims' families and the people of Sabah.

"The Golden Son of the Kadazan", which was written by the late former politician and author Bernard Sta Maria, was banned on June 22, 1978, under the now-abolished Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960.

It was reported that, despite the ISA being repealed in 2012, the ban on the book was still maintained as the then government perceived that it could still threaten national interest and security.

In a May 25, 2015, The Star report, then home minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the book was banned because it contained “extreme criticisms of the Federal Government, including claims that the Government made hasty decisions in the state”.

“It is also leaning towards causing friction and conflict among Malaysians, particularly the Muslims and Christians,” he said, in a written reply to Darell Leiking, who was PKR’s Penampang MP at the time.

Following that, local leaders including Sabah STAR president Datuk Seri Dr Jeffrey Kitingan also called on the government to lift the ban, saying the book not only told the story of the beloved Kadazan politician but also gave a glimpse of the community’s cultural life.

As such, Kitingan said this was a valuable record not only for Sabah but the country as well. - Star