Home Ministry gazettes prohibition order on 22 publications

The ministry's chief secretary, Datuk Seri Alwi Ibrahim said among the publications were 10 translations of the Quran in Malay, English, Chinese and Korean languages as they were printed without the original verses in Arabic.

"Translation of the Quran into other languages must be done with the original verses in Arabic, failing which, the translation might not be accurate. The translation needs to be done, according to the Arabic method which has certain rules," he said in a statement here Monday.

Also included in the ban are five publications for promoting liberalism ideology, defaming Islam and for clearly deviating from the true teachings of Islam.

The publications are titled, 'Islam Tanpa Keestreman: Berhujah Untuk Kebebasan', 'Islam Without Extremes: A Muslim Case For Liberty', Wacana Pemikiran Reformis (Volumes I and II), and 'Ulama Yang Bukan Pewaris Nabi'.

Alwi said two books titled, 'Islam dan Iman: Aturan-Aturan Pokok', and 'Islam Kemodernan Dan Keindonesiaan' were also banned because they were found to contain elements that were confusing and contradictory to the Islamic syariah.

Two other books titled, 'Sekitar Masalah Tariqat (naqsyabandiyah)', and 'Meniti Jalan Hidayah: Menuju Toriqah Khotmul-Auliya', were banned for containing facts that were confusing and contradictory to the teachings of Islam, according to the Sunnah Wal Jamaah Sect.

Other publications included in the ban are 'Tantra: The Search For Ecstasy; Aku ___, Maka Aku Ada!; and Sapuman: Man of Steel.

Alwi said overall, all the publications were seen to be detrimental to, or misleading the readers, especially the younger generation, and not suitable as general reading material.

"The contents of these publications are capable of confusing the public, going against the law, and detrimental to public morality," he added.

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 publications violating the law and being circulated in the market to lodge complaints with the ministry's Publications Control and Quranic Text Division at 03-88868047 or fax 03-88891682 or via the website http://moha.spab.gov.my.