Stop Harassing Bookstores!

Dear Malaysian Home Ministry, the message is a simple one (and it's not the first time I have blogged this ) :

STOP HARRASSING BOOKSHOPS!!!

If you say that you want to get your hands on a copy OF a title to study it :

THEN ASK THE PUBLISHERS!

If you decide to get it from a bookseller :

PAY FOR WHAT YOU TAKE!

If a book is not banned and you seize it, you are acting in a bullying, brutish manner and possibly illegally.

News today in The Star that seven bookshops have had copies of the Malaysiakini books 1Funny Malaysia and Where is Justice confiscated/nabbed/grabbed/seized. 57 copies of the books taken in all :

“The books are not banned but they want to seize the books for review purposes,” said Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan.

He said ministry officials could get the books from Kinibooks and need not disturb the bookstores.

He added that Malaysiakini had asked its lawyers to send a letter to the Home Ministry asking for reason for the seizure of the books and demand for their return.

“If they want to ban the books, they should just ban it and we will contest the decision in court,” he said.

1Funny Malaysia by Malaysiakini cartoonist Zulkiflee Anuar is the second of the cartoonist’s books to be seized.

His cartoon magazine Gedung Kartun (Cartoon Store) was seized in August last year. “My work touches on current issues and is designed to arouse critical thinking and encourage healthy debates.

“The Home Ministry and police actions certainly do not encourage the development of the political cartoon industry in Malaysia. It is also a total violation of press freedom, freedom of expression and the principles of democracy,” he said.

Nathaniel Tan, editor of Where is Justice said he does not understand why the Home Ministry was taking so long to review the book as the text was not long.

“The facts used in the books were checked by our lawyers before publishing to ensure we are not breaking any laws,” he added.

This is a pattern of unacceptable behaviour that needs to stop. But then the authorities are clearly not listening. (From blogger Sharon Bakar, Petaling Jaya)

P/s: Buy them before they are banned. Here.