PKR MP reminds Anwar of his lecturing days after ban of leftist books

PKR MP Tan Kar Hing today recalled his party president Anwar Ibrahim’s lecturing career at several of the world’s foremost universities, drawing a parallel with the recent ban on leftist books under the prime minister’s administration.

In a statement, the Gopeng lawmaker said removing books has almost become futile in an era where information is widely accessible on smartphones.

“On the contrary, book bans are increasingly challenged, and may even be seen as an attempt to undermine the intelligence of the public.

“One can only imagine how the PMX (10th prime minister Anwar) would respond to the international media, as a political figure who once lectured at some of the world’s most renowned universities, yet now allows the banning of left-leaning books under the Madani government he leads,” Tan said.

This comes after the Home Ministry banned yet another publication on a communist leader, this time involving a book on Mao Zedong published with funding from the Selangor state government.

According to a federal government gazette, the book titled “Mao Zedong: China dalam Dunia Abad ke-20” was banned under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act, which gives the home minister the “absolute discretion” to prohibit any “undesirable publications”.

The ban took effect from the date of the gazette on Feb 13. The original book, titled “Mao Zedong and China in the Twentieth-Century World”, was written by New York University history professor Rebecca E Karl.

It centred on the historical account of the former Chinese Communist Party leader’s life and thoughts, according to a description by Duke University Press.

The translated version was published in 2020 by IBDE Ilham Sdn Bhd, a private company that received grants from the Selangor state government.

“Clearly, book bans run contrary to the direction of the Madani government. The banning of the translated book ‘Mao Zedong: China dalam Dunia Abad ke-20’ in Malay has invited criticism that the people risk becoming like frogs under a coconut shell if they only master the Malay language.

“Viewed in this context, the initiative by IBDE to translate important global works should be commended. Not only do the translated works illuminate the minds of readers, but they also indirectly elevate the status of the Malay language as a language of knowledge,” Tan added.

He also urged Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail to review several recent book bans by the ministry.

“Last week, we were taken aback by the banning of ‘Memoir Shamsiah Fakeh: Dari Awas ke Rejimen Ke-10’ and ‘Komrad Asi (Rejimen 10): Dalam Denyut Nihilisme Sejarah’, published by Gerakbudaya, on the grounds that they allegedly normalise and glorify communist ideology.

READ MORE: Jamaliah laments govt censoring grandma’s memoir, Home Ministry plays ‘communism’ card

“I also urge Anwar to take this development seriously, as it is inconsistent with principles we have long upheld.

“If such justifications for banning books are normalised, then university lecturers who introduce communist theory could also risk being accused of spreading and glorifying communism,” Tan remarked.

Multiple book bans

On April 15, Gerakbudaya slammed the government for banning two of its publications on the Communist Party of Malaya. In a statement, the company said the ministry served it with a notice regarding the decision.

It said it would also mount a legal challenge to the ban.

Last week, Petaling Jaya MP Lee Chean Chung also urged the ministry to lift its ban on the two Gerakbudaya books.

He also noted the irony that Shamsiah’s memoir, first published by Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 2004, was not banned by the previous BN and Perikatan Nasional-led governments.

Gerakbudaya published the second book in 2022.

COMMENT | Does govt fear communism or ideas it can't control?

Home Ministry bans S'gor govt-funded translated book on Mao Zedong

Jamaliah laments govt censoring grandma's memoir, Home Ministry plays 'communism' card

'Prove Madani govt is better': PKR lawmaker urges lift on bans of two CPM books