The High Court in Kuala Lumpur today granted leave to hear a judicial review application to challenge the ban on the book by the publisher of Irshad Manji’s Malay translation of ‘ Allah, Liberty and Love ’ to ‘ Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta ’.     

Judge Abang Iskandar Abang Hashim rendered the decision in chambers in the presence of senior federal counsel Shamsul Bol Hasan, who represented the deputy home minister and two others, and lawyer K Shanmuga appearing for ZI Publications Sdn Bhd.   

Meanwhile, Shanmuga told reporters that the respondents had not objected to the application but no hearing date was set.     

On July 9, ZI Publications had filed for a judicial review naming the deputy home minister, home minister and the Malaysian government as the respondents.   

 

The company claimed that they were not allowed any opportunity to voice    their view on the matter before the deputy home minister’s May 29 ban on the printing, importing, producing and selling of the book.    

They further claimed that the book only contained opinions in the form of brief summaries criticising current approaches in the administration of the religion, which was not harmful.   

They alleged that the ban was null as it was inconsistent with Article 10(1)(a) and 8(1) of the federal constitution, related to freedom of speech and expression.  

They are seeking to dismiss the respondent's order and have the order declared null, with costs.   

- Bernama