PUTRAJAYA: The Home Ministry has issued a ban on the book "Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance, and Hope in New Malaysia", effective last Wednesday.
In the Federal Government Gazette dated July 1, the order was issued under the Printing Presses and Publications (Control of Undesirable Publications) Order 2020.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin made the order pursuant to subsection 7 (1) of the Printing Presses and Publishing Acts 1984.
The order stated that the prohibition covers the printing, importation, production, reproduction, publishing, sale, issue, circulation, distribution or possession of the book in Malaysia.
The English-language book is banned because "it may disrupt public order, alarm public opinion, is contrary to any law and harmful to national interests and security."
"Rebirth", edited by Kean Wong and published by the Strategic Information and Research Development Centre, sparked controversy when its cover was revealed to feature a modified image of the national coat-of-arms, which was deemed insulting to the national symbol. -- Bernama