PETALING JAYA: Enforcement action against two publications titled “Memoir Shamsiah Fakeh: Dari Awas ke Rejimen Ke-10” and “Komrad ASI (Rejimen 10): Dalam Denyut Nihilisme Sejarah” was taken based on current assessments and public safety considerations, and not solely on the publication dates of the materials, says the Home Ministry.
The Ministry said it had imposed prohibition orders on both publications under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (Act 301).
“All actions were taken lawfully, carefully and based on legal provisions and relevant expertise,” it said in a statement on Thursday (April 16).
The ministry said content assessments were carried out under Section 7 of Act 301, particularly on elements deemed potentially detrimental to public safety.
Based on ongoing monitoring and intelligence inputs, the ministry said it had identified materials containing communist elements and ideology being circulated more openly in the market.
“Previously, the dissemination of such materials was limited and restricted. However, recent developments show a tendency to normalise and glorify the ideology, which is clearly contrary to national security interests,” it said.
The ministry rejected claims that the action was intended to curb intellectual freedom or academic discourse, stressing that it was a preventive measure to protect the public from ideologies that could undermine harmony and public order.
It also said it would not compromise on any attempt to spread, promote or revive ideologies that contravene the law.
Investigations are ongoing into both publications, including publishers such as SIRD, to ensure compliance with legal requirements, including registration status with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) and the Registrar of Societies (RoS).
The Home Ministry also urged all parties not to escalate the issue or issue statements that could mislead the public or trigger unnecessary polemics.
