Online retail giant Amazon is selling the book 'Money Logging: On the Trail of the Asian Timber Mafia', despite the threat of a defamation suit by the book's subject Sarawak governor Abdul Taib Mahmud.

The book went on sale in the UK at the bookseller's online store on Dec 8, Swiss NGO Bruno Manser Fund said in a statement late yesterday.

BMF's executive director Lukas Straumann ( right ) is author of the book, which was earlier withheld by Amazon after Taib's lawyer issued a legal letter to the online bookseller.

“Civil society has today scored an important victory over Malaysia mighty political establishment who have tried to stop the release of a critical book on governor Taib...,” it said.

“Amazon is not only selling the book themselves but are also offering a platform for a dozen independent booksellers from the UK and Ireland to market the book.”

In a letter to Amazon on Oct 23, Taib's UK-based lawyer Mischon de Reya said that the book is defamatory as it paints Taib as a corrupt despot, who stashed billions earned from illegal timber trade overseas.

Legal letters were also issued to the author, publisher and distributors.

The book is available in Malaysia through boutique retailer Gerakbudaya.

Popular book store says it has ordered the books, while Kinokuniya Malaysia's website lists it as “out of stock”.

It is not available at MPH while Times book store's website says those interested should enquire about its availability at stores.