Ban on G25 book lifted

The lifting of a ban on a book titled 'Breaking The Silence: Voices of Moderation - Islam in a Constitutional Democracy' by pro-moderation group G25 has been formally recorded in a federal gazette.

The revocation order signed by Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin was dated Nov 21, and recorded in a federal gazette dated Dec 10.

"In exercise of the powers conferred by subsection 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 [Act 301], the minister revokes the prohibition of printing, importation, production, reproduction, publishing, sale, issue, circulation, distribution or possession of publications of 'Breaking the Silence: Voices of Moderation: Islam in a Constitutional Democracy'," according to the federal gazette.

The order was made to revoke a ban on the book which was previously gazetted on July 27, 2017, via the Printing Presses and Publications (Control of Undesirable Publications) (No. 12) Order 2017 [P.U. (A) 207/2017].

This formal lifting of the ban comes nearly seven months after Kuala Lumpur High Court Judge Nordin Hassan had ruled in favour of G25 as applicants in a judicial review case to nullify the ban order issued by Umno president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi as then home minister.

In his judgment, Justice Nordin said the minister has failed to show the basis of his decision to ban the book as stated in the order.

"It is not mentioned in the affidavit of the minister, except that they relied on the opinion of Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (Jakim)," he was quoted as saying.

The case was filed by five G25 members, comprising G25 spokesperson Noor Farida Mohd Ariffin, 73; Zainuddeen Abdul Bahari, 75; Mohd Sheriff Mohd Kessim, 80; Latifah Osman Merican, 69; and Asma Abdullah, 71.