Home Ministry Open To Rethinking Book Ban Laws Group

---

A group advocating for writers’ rights hinted at positive developments towards proposed reviews of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) 1984, which has been used to ban and seize books.
PEN Malaysia president Mahi Ramakrishnan said Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail made commitments during a meeting at the ministry in Putrajaya yesterday, alongside representatives of supporting groups and other government officials.
“I must say, they were very open to receiving suggestions.
“The minister himself agreed that there are some reviews that can be made to the procedures, especially when they go to a bookshop to take (seize) a book,” she told Malaysiakini.
Mahi (above) said PEN Malaysia’s meeting request was prompted by the Home Ministry seizing two books by author Ismi Fa Ismail - “Jelik” and “Jelik: 2” - on June 26, purportedly to “review” their contents.
Home Ministry officers seizing booksThe books’ publisher, Fixi, suggested on Facebook that Home Ministry officers be given “pocket money” to pay for the books, instead of taking them for free.
Further engagements
Mahi said Saifuddin also committed to future meetings following their initial discussions.
“The minister said it cannot be a one-off meeting, and he agreed to my suggestion of future engagements so we can continue to explore ways in which we can look at this entire process surrounding book seizures.
“He said, ‘You may have certain presumptions about how the ministry works, but throw all of that aside and come engage with us.’
“He also said ‘We welcome engagements to see how we can do things better’ and I honestly find that very refreshing,” she added.
While crediting Saifuddin’s commitment, Mahi said PEN Malaysia reiterated a larger demand for the PPPA to be repealed and replaced with a self-regulatory framework for writers and the publishing industry.
Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution IsmailADSApart from the procedural review, Mahi said PEN Malaysia and supporting groups also sought clearer definitions of terms such as “illegal content”, which has been used to justify the banning of literary works.
“It is very confusing for book writers, book sellers, because we don’t know what will be banned,” she said.
The Home Ministry deferred plans last December to table proposed amendments to the PPPA.
That was amid protests by groups advocating for the rights of journalists and media workers concerned over purported plans to expand existing controls on online media. - Mkini

---