A proposal to lift the ban on the book titled “The Golden Son of the Kadazan”, which chronicles the life and career of former Sabah minister Peter J Mojuntin, has been made to the federal government.
According to a report by The Star, Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister Ewon Benedick had raised the matter in Tuesday's cabinet meeting for consideration.
This comes after a request by Mojuntin’s family for Putrajaya to lift the ban on the book, Ewon (above) was quoted as saying.
“I believe the home minister will give his feedback on this matter in the next cabinet meeting,” he was quoted as saying by the English daily, after presenting the official investigation report on the Double Six Crash to the family yesterday.
Following Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s announcement last week that the full report on the crash would be declassified, the late Mojuntin’s eldest son – Donald Mojuntin – urged Putrajaya to make the book available to the public.
The fatal crash on June 6, 1976, claimed 11 lives including Mojuntin - who was the local government and housing minister at that time.
Fuad Stephens, who had just returned to the Sabah chief minister post after a decade, was the most high-profile victim.
There were many other big names among the deceased - including state ministers Salleh Sulong and Chong Thien Vun, as well as Fuad's eldest son Johari Stephens.
On April 5, Donald expressed hope for the government to lift the ban on the publication and distribution of “The Golden Son of the Kadazan”.
“(This is) a book that gives us a glimpse of Peter as a revered leader in Sabah politics.
“We do not know of any reasonable justification in banning the book or were we given any reasonable explanation for it.
“We implore our most honourable prime minister and his cabinet to continue doing the right thing,” he told The Star.
The book was penned by the late politician and author Bernard Sta Maria but was banned on June 22, 1978, under the Internal Security Act (ISA) 1960 – which has been abolished.
Despite ISA’s repeal in 2012, it was reported that the book’s prohibition remained in place as the then government believed it still posed a threat to the country’s interest and security.
In 2015, then home minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi reportedly said that the book was banned because it contained “extreme criticisms of the federal government, including claims that the government made hasty decisions in the state”.
The minister also claimed that the book was “leaning towards causing friction and conflict among Malaysians, particularly the Muslims and Christians.”
Despite the ban, the book, which also touches on the plane crash, is available online and its full contents can be downloaded on the e-book and audiobook service Scribd.
In 2018, Star president Jeffrey Kittingan pointed out that since the book is available online, the government should rescind the ban. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.