Cartoonist Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque and Malaysiakini will file their application for judicial review of the Home Ministry’s ban of the comic books, '1Funny Malaysia' and ‘Perak Darul Kartun', this Monday.

The Home Ministry banned ‘1Funny Malaysia’ and ‘Perak Darul Kartun’ on June 24, 2010.

mahmood adam According to reports, the ministry’s chief secretary Mahmood Adam ( right ) said the books were banned because the ministry found them unsuitable for reading by the public.

“The publications have been banned for its contents that can influence the people to revolt against the leaders and government policies.

"The contents are not suitable and detrimental to public order," said Mahmood.

Printing, importing, producing, reprinting, publishing, selling, circulating, distributing or  offering to sell or possess prohibited material or contents are offenses under the Printing Presses and Publications Act that are liable to punishment of up to three years' imprisonment, fine of up to RM 20,000, or both for.

NONE ‘1Funny Malaysia’, published in December last year, is a collection Zulkifli's published work from the year 2005 until 2009, in Malaysiakini.

'Perak Darul Kartun' on the other hand, was published by his company Sepakat Efektif Sdn Bhd and feature collaborated work between several other Malaysian cartoonists and Zulkifli, who is better known as Zunar ( above ).

zunar new kartoon book 091209 perak darul kartun Malaysiakini chief executive officer Premesh Chandran had earlier described the action by the Home Ministry as "peculiar" given the cartoons, particularly those in '1Funny Malaysia', were published some time ago on the news website’s Cartoonkini section.

“As far as we know, there has been no revolt against the government since they were uploaded," said Premesh.

Lawyers for Malaysiakini and Zunar will file the suit at the Duta court complex in Kuala Lumpur at 12 noon.

The fate of a third book, ‘Where is Justice?’, is yet unknown after copies were seized from bookstores along with ‘1Funny Malaysia’ five months ago.

‘Where is Justice?’ is a collection of articles on the issue of death and torture of detainees while being held under police custody focusing on four prominent cases - Teoh Beng Hock, A Kugan, Altantuya Shaariibuu and Anwar Ibrahim.

A ministry spokesperson had earlier said the book was under review.