Literary group Gabungan Penulis Nasional (Gapena) backs moves by the government to ban books, including creative works, if they are deemed to be in contravention of the laws of the country.

NONE "All forms of literary work must comply with the constitution, laws and regulations of the country," Gapena chairperson Abdul Latif Abu Bakar ( left ) said in an interview with Malaysiakini last week.

"We cannot write with an absolutely free hand. Say, for example, Malaysia has an official religion but suddenly someone makes his own rule and questions this...

"So, don't try to be a hero," he said when asked to comment on the government's growing tendency to ban literary work by local writers.

This included the banning of the novel ‘ Sebongkah Batu di Kuala Berang ' by author Faisal Tenrani in 2011.

NONE Faisal's latest novel ‘ Perempuan Nan Bercinta ', which was launched by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak ( left in photo ) on July 2 is facing the same fate.

The Islamic Development Department (Jakim) claims the novel contains elements of the minority Shiite sect.

Prior to this, only the novel ‘ Puteri Gunung Tanah ' by Pak Sako was banned, and this was was during British colonial rule.

Asked about the novel ‘ Perempuan Nan Bercinta ', Abdul Latif said the coalition of 21 writers' associations stood with the government on the ban of writings on Shiite ideology.

"That is an ideology not agreed to by the country. It cannot (be accepted), so why should we want to permit it?" he said.

However, Abdul Latif stressed the coalition was still keeping an open mind on the issue.

Pro-government group

Gapena is a coalition of Malay literati, founded in 1970 and led by Ismail Hussein since its inception.

The coalition has consistently been pro-government, in contrast with its rival Persatuan Penulis Nasional Malaysia (Pena) which was founded in 1961 and at times very critical of the authorities.

NONE Asked about laws considered regressive to literary creativity, such as the Official Secrets Act (OSA), Abdul Latif defended these laws, declaring them to be helpful to the government in maintaining national security.

According to him, laws such as the OSA could be criticised by the people, but if the government refused to amend them, then the people still had to obey them.

"We oppose, but if it is not accepted, we obey (the government). That is what is called the government and the people," he said.

He said Gapena would obey the government even if it disagreed with it on certain policies that the coalition deemed unsuitable.

"On matters of literature and writings, we have no problem with the government. We assume that everything done by the government is right," Abdul Latif added.

VIDEO|3.20 mins

Abdul Latif was interviewed by Jimadie Shah Othman, Hafiz Yatim and Ahmad Fadli KC at the Gapena office in Kuala Lumpur last week.