KUALA LUMPUR: Book publisher, Chong Ton Sin who came under fire over a controversial book cover in the internet on Sunday has since apologised.
The Gerakbudaya Production director and founder said he had no intention of insulting or ridiculing the national coat of arms when it was used on the cover of a book recently.
"I am truly sorry for the mistake but I did not think it would be a big deal or was even offensive because it is an old painting and felt it would not be a problem to make it the cover of a book.
"But I did not think it would cause people to be offended.....I had no intention of doing so, this was unintentional," he said when contacted today.
Chong said he apologised if anyone was offended by it and will extend his full cooperation to the police for the investigation.
"Yesterday a few policemen came to the office but I was out for lunch. Maybe today or tomorrow they will come back or they will call me to Bukit Aman (to record my statement). I am still waiting," he said.
It is learnt that the book entitled, 'Rebirth: Reform, Resistance, And Hope in New Malaysia' is edited by Kean Wong and was published earlier this year with more than 300 copies sold.
Yesterday, NST quoted Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainuddin calling for stern action to be taken against those responsible for the production of the book cover.
He urged the Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador to investigate the matter as there are provisions which clearly state 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.
The act was also condemned by Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dasuki via his Facebook post and was backed by thousands of netizens on Sunday.
He had also called for the book to be banned altogether.
The cover of the book had featured an image which bears a striking resemblance to the country's coat-of-arms, and depicts a naked child and two tigers with human face on either side, atop a crocodile.