KUALA LUMPUR: Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin has instructed police to open investigations into and mete out stern action upon individuals involved in the production of a book cover which allegedly insults the country's coat-of-arms, or 'Jata Negara'.
In a post uploaded to his Facebook account yesterday, Hamzah said that there are provisions in the law which clearly state that it is an offence for anyone to misuse, misinterpret and misrepresent any symbol that is identical or bears a resemblance to the country's and government's official insignia.
"Section 3(1)(a) of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963 clearly states that it is an offence for anyone to (reproduce) a symbol that is similar to that of the Federal Government's 'Jata Negara'.
"I have instructed the police to investigate and take immediate stern action (against the culprits). The government will not compromise towards any party which engages in such unpatriotic and irresponsible actions," said Hamzah.
On Sunday (June 28), Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dasuki had urged the Home Ministry to take action against the author, publisher and editor of a book which allegedly ridicules the 'Jata Negara'.
Asyraf stated, in a Facebook post, that the book, entitled "Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance, And Hope in New Malaysia", should be banned altogether for being offensive and disrespectful to the country.
The book's cover is said to feature an image which bears a striking resemblance to the country's coat-of-arms, and depicts a naked child and two tigers with human faces on either side, atop a crocodile.
"The book's cover shows the author and publisher's blatant disrespect for our country's coat-of-arms, and stern action must be taken for any intent to insult the official symbol of the country," said Asyraf.
Many netizens were also horrified by the book, with quite a few calling for stern action against the author and publisher for insulting the country.