KUALA LUMPUR: Autobiography 'Becoming Hannah: A personal Journey' was never banned by the Home Ministry, the High Court heard today.
Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said the book, which chronicles her personal experiences and life journey, has been reprinted 18 times.
"On the pages of the book, it is clearly stated that it reflects my personal experiences and journey.
"This book has been reprinted numerous times over the years and was never banned by the Home Ministry," said the DAP assistant national publicity secretary when testifying in her defamation suit against Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) lecturer Dr Kamarul Zaman Yusoff today.
Yeoh said the impugned posts published by the defendant were clearly intended to offend, insult, and defame her by portraying her as a politician attempting to spread Christianity through her political career.
The Segambut member of parliament said the defendant's actions clearly indicate that he cannot accept her right to freely practice her religion in this country.
"Therefore, the language and choice of words used by the defendant, including terms such as 'hypocrisy,' 'preaching,' 'using political position,' 'calling fellow Christian members,' 'preacher,' 'persuading,' 'influencing,' 'inciting,' 'mission,' and 'offense,' are deliberately scandalous, controversial, criminal, unreasonable, and inflammatory.
"The defendant has repeatedly abused or misused his position to make false and baseless allegations against DAP political leaders, including myself, under the guise of his self-proclaimed role as a political analyst," she said.
She said there is no evidence to suggest that any Muslim has deviated from their faith after reading the book.
"It is important to highlight that, as a Speaker, I was elected by the Selangor state assembly, where the Sultan of Selangor, the Head of Islam in the state, plays a significant role.
"Additionally, as a deputy minister and now a minister, both my swearing-in ceremonies were conducted before the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the Head of Islam in this country," she said.
In 2022, Yeoh filed a defamation suit against Kamarul, who was a special officer to the prime minister from 2021 to 2022, over two Facebook posts uploaded by the defendant in May 2017.
In the posting, he alleged that Yeoh "has a motive to proselytise Christianity through her politics."
He also cited that Yeoh's biography, Becoming Hannah: A Personal Journey, for driving a "Christian agenda."
Yeoh is seeking general, aggravated and exemplary damages from the defendant.
The trial before Judge Aliza Sulaiman continues.