Toko Buku Rakyat owner Benz Ali has slammed Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail over the latter's explanation regarding the seizure of two books from his shop in Wisma Central, Kuala Lumpur, last Friday.
According to the author, whose real name is Amir Hamzah Akal Ali, the seizure proves that the government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is now "barbaric" - a far cry from its previous reformist image.
"The issue is not about bills. The two books are not on the ban list.
"And the ‘Marx the Revolutionary Educator’ (Marx Sang Pendidik Revolusioner) book by Robin Smalls was seized once before in 2015 but has not been banned since," Amir Hamzah (above) said in a statement to Malaysiakini.
Yesterday, Saifuddin defended his ministry's book seizure, saying it would not be accurate to call it a "raid" on the premises.
In fact, only two books were taken from the premises, and that too, based on public complaints, he said.
Saifuddin also told Amir Hamzah to send the ministry "the bill" for the books if he had issues with their seizure under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
But to Amir Hamzah, the act is "ancient and outdated".
"The act was made during the era of (former prime minister Dr) Mahathir Mohamad and is still being used during the Anwar Ibrahim regime.
"So, what reform is this Madani government talking about?" he asked.
According to Amir Hamzah, the reason given by Putrajaya would enable it to do the same with any other book and act against those who do not share the same ideology with the government.
Previously, PKR Youth wing’s vice-chief Tyra Hanim Razali criticised the seizure, calling it an "act of intimidation” against small-scale publishers of alternative books.
Following Saifuddin's explanation, PKR's Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung also called for the Home Ministry to review and improve standard operating procedures (SOPs) so that they are in line with the spirit of Madani. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.