PKR Youth: If seized books subversive, what of Hitler's 'Mein Kampf'?

PKR Youth has criticised the Home Ministry’s raid and seizure of books at Toko Buku Rakyat.

Although the authorities have remained tight-lipped, the wing’s vice-chief Tyra Hanim Razali said if the justification of “subversive” content is used, then it would be a case of a double standard.

“If the titles seized are said to be subversive but books such as Adolf Hitler’s ‘Mein Kempf’, which promotes Nazism, are available without restriction, then the seizure will be seen as a double standard,” she said in a statement.

Tyra described the incident as an “act of intimidation” against small-scale publishers of alternative books.

“Apart from projecting an unhealthy signal to the public, it also provides an opportunity for detractors to portray the coalition government as an autocratic establishment,” she added.

Cold War mentality

Furthermore, Tyra said the Home Ministry’s action threatened literary expression which can stimulate the expansion of the Malaysian mindset.

“The concept of contestation of ideas should be defined in Malaysia Madani and not just be lip service.

“The government cannot afford to lose the support of academics and intellectual activists in its mission to build an intellectual society under the Malaysia Madani administration,” she added.

Home Ministry officials raided the bookstore in Kuala Lumpur, which is owned by independent writer Benz Ali, on Aug 18.

The two books seized were ‘Marx the Revolutionary Educator’ (Marx Sang Pendidik Revolusioner) written by Robin Small and ‘Masturbation Poetry Collection’ (Koleksi Puisi Masturbasi) written by Benz himself.

Previously, PSM also criticised the raid and seizure, calling it a “regressive step”.

“(It) shows that the minds of some authorities in our country are still stuck in the Cold War era that has long passed,” said PSM committee member Choo Chon Kai. - Mkini