PUTRAJAYA: The Home Ministry has gazetted a prohibition order on six publications because their contents may be detrimental to public order, morality and the public interest.
The ministry’s secretary-general Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim said the order was issued through four government gazettes dated April 24 – PU(A)106, PU(A)107, PU(A)108 and PU(A)109.
He said the prohibition was issued under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (Act 301).
“This order outlines that the printing, import, production, reproduction, publication, sale, distribution, issuance, circulation, distribution or possession of the publications are strictly prohibited in Malaysia,” he said in a statement, today.
“The publications include Islam dan Teologi Pembebasan; The Road to Muhammad; and Mutiara Sastera Ali: Edisi Surat & Aforisme as they are deemed to contain elements that cause confusion among the people and are contrary to Islam’s Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah (Sunni) teachings.
“Another publication entitled Mengenal Allah Melalui Agama-Agama Purba: Gautama Buddha Seorang Nabi? has to be banned as its contents are contrary to Islamic akidah and teachings, and it contains elements promoting liberalism that can cause confusion among readers, especially Muslims.”
Alwi said the other two publications entitled Confessions: A Secret Diary and Hidden Agendas were found to contain pornography and sexual stories that were not compatible with the norms of Malaysian life.
“Any individual who prints, imports, produces, reproduces, publishes, sells, circulates, offers to sell, distributes or has a banned publication is committing an offence under Section 8 (2) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
“If convicted, they can be jailed for not more than three years, or fined not more than RM20,000, or both.”
Alwi urged those who came across these publications to inform the ministry’s Publications Control and Quranic Text Division by calling 03-88868047, faxing 03-88891682 or sending an email to //moha.spab.gov.my.