The Singapore-based publisher Media Masters has challenged Malaysian newspaper editors to decide whether the Internal Security Ministry's three month-long refusal to issue a permit for a book was fair.

At the heart of the controversy is Faces of Courage , which on its front cover claims to be 'a revealing historical appreciation of colonial Malaya's legendary Kathigasu family'.

On June 28, Media Masters sent a letter together with review copies to all senior Malaysian newspaper executives.

According to Ian Ward of Media Masters, a pre-printing blueprint of the title was submitted to the Internal Security Ministry on March 31 and the officers tasked for reviewing the book have since given it the green light.

The officers also submitted a report to their superior, whose final authorisation was required in the signing of the formal permit letter.

However, despite repeated approaches by the publisher's representatives over the past three months, the permit letter remains withheld.

Chin Peng 'sensitive'

Last Friday, customs officers in Johor Baru seized a consignment of 20 review copies of Faces of Courage en route to prospective press reviewers in Kuala Lumpur. The officers who detained the books did so on the grounds that its cover carried the words 'Chin Peng'.

While admitting that their command of English was inadequate and they failed to possess a list of banned books, the officers concerned maintained that Chin Peng's name was 'sensitive'.

Technically speaking, Faces of Courage had not been banned by the Malaysian authorities but the ministry's continuing delay in issuing a release letter was believed to be serving as a ban in effect, if not in name.

Critics of Malaysia's censorship policies see a direct parallel between the way the ministry is currently handling Faces of Courage and the recent action taken in regard to the film, The Last Communist , which is based on Chin Peng's early life.

The nation's censors initially passed the Amir Muhammad film for general release but subsequently, government authorities overturned the professional opinions of the experts and controversially banned any public showing of the film here.

This action triggered widespread local criticism. It was also repeatedly pointed out that the film had already been shown at festivals worldwide and was openly playing at a cinema in Singapore. Like the film, the book, Faces of Courage , is readily available in Singapore.

Unfair treatment

In his 'challenge' letter to Malaysian newspaper editors, Ward complained about the ministry's 'unfair treatment'.

"That Sybil Kathigasu ( right ) is an important, nay legendary, figure on the Malaysian historical scene is surely incontestable.

"Equally, there can be no argument over the claim that she is the nation's most highly decorated heroine. As such her story presents as absolutely legitimate grounds for historical research," he wrote.

He also pointed out that the New Sunday Times on May 7, devoted a double-page, full-colour spread pegged to the book's anticipated release.

Faces of Courage , Ward said in his letter, was the result of meticulous research work. "It is based on impeccable sources and throws open to public scrutiny important, heretofore unexplored and unexplained aspects of the Kathigasu saga. Indeed, much of what has been previously written about this family is grossly inaccurate."

Ward ( left ) noted that Faces of Courage included details of the trial of Japanese Kempeitai sergeant Yoshimura, Sybil Kathigasu's wartime torturer. The research in this area, published for the first time, provided vital new additions to "the historical record".

"Sybil's only surviving relative, her now 85-year-old daughter, Olga, speaks also for the first time of the calamities that overtook her family as a result of the Japanese occupation of Malaya from 1942-45. Similarly, her input is quite vital to an accurate historical account," he said.

Fascinating insights

Addressing Chin Peng's contribution to Faces of Courage , the letter explained that Sybil Kathigasu was tortured to reveal her connections to anti-Japanese communist guerrillas operating near her Papan, Perak, residence.

According to Ward, the veteran of the Communist Party of Malaya, one of the founding figures of the guerrilla network directly associated with Sybil, came into personal contact with the Kathigasus.

"He is also able to provide fascinating new insights into the structure of the communist organisation at that time, together with revealing observations on the actions, attitudes and temperaments of those guerrillas linked to the Kathigasu family," said Ward.

"In this sense", he argued, "as a source, Chin Peng is not only invaluable, but quite essential to the record."

"We would respectfully submit that the withholding of a letter of permit allowing the distribution of a book in Malaysia, places that book in a convenient but questionable no-man's land," he said.

Malaysiakini received a copy of the letter and a complimentary copy of the book yesterday.