On 15 April, book publisher and distributor Gerakbudaya received a notice from Malaysia’s Ministry of Home Affairs informing it of a ban on two of their books, Memoir Shamsiah Fakeh: Dari AWAS ke Regimen ke-10 (Shamsiah Fakeh’s Memoir: From AWAS to the 10th Regiment) and Komrad Asi Regimen 10: Dalam DenyutNihilisme Sejarah (Comrade Asi Regiment 10: In the Pulse of Historical Nihilism). Both books recount the struggles of the Malayan Communist Party in their fight against British colonialism for full independence. According to Gerakbudaya, the ban was imposed under Sections 7(1)1Section 7(1) gives the Minister of Home Affairs ‘absolute discretion’ to ban any publication deemed undesirable if it poses a threat to public order, morality, security, or the national interest, or likely to alarm public opinion or to be contrary to any law. , Section 8(1)2Section 8(1) makes it an offence for any person to possess a prohibited publication without lawful excuse, punishable by a fine of up to 5,000 ringgit. and Section 8(2)3Section 8(2) states that anyone involved in printing, importing, distributing, or selling such publications can face imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to 20,000 ringgit, or both. of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA). The ban is unnecessary and disproportionate, and ARTICLE 19 calls on the government to immediately lift the ban and repeal the PPPA.
This arbitrary action from the Ministry of Home Affairs represents yet another instance of this draconian Act being used to restrict access to information in a manner that contravenes international human rights standards.
‘The continued reliance on the PPPA to suppress historical and political narratives that are indispensable to a healthy democracy is deeply troubling. Removing parts of history – regardless of how uncomfortable or controversial they may be – not only limits our access to information but also shuts down our ability to recognise and understand different viewpoints. To truly progress as a nation, we must be able to learn from all sides of our history, rather than being confined to a narrative sanctioned by the authorities for us. Malaysia’s history was not created by single actors, but shaped by many, including people like Shamsiah Fakeh. Shamsiah Fakeh is recognised as one of Malaysia’s most prominent feminist and leftist women’s leaders who contributed to the struggle against colonialism and the fight for independence from the British. Banning her memoirs is an attempt to diminish the important role of women in Malaysia’s history,’ said Nalini Elumalai, ARTICLE 19’s Senior Malaysia Programme Officer.
ARTICLE 19 has repeatedly warned that the PPPA is incompatible with international human rights law and standards relating to freedom of expression. The law gives sweeping discretion to the Minister of Home Affairs to ban publications, opening the door to arbitrary and discriminatory application of the law.
‘As long as this law remains on the books, it will continue to enable arbitrary censorship and suppress the free exchange of ideas – even erasing critical sections of history. We urge the Malaysian government to immediately reverse the ban and take concrete steps to repeal the PPPA. Such steps are vital to safeguarding freedom of expression and ensuring that all individuals can access, share, and engage with information without fear of repercussions,’ added Nalini.
- 1Section 7(1) gives the Minister of Home Affairs ‘absolute discretion’ to ban any publication deemed undesirable if it poses a threat to public order, morality, security, or the national interest, or likely to alarm public opinion or to be contrary to any law.
- 2Section 8(1) makes it an offence for any person to possess a prohibited publication without lawful excuse, punishable by a fine of up to 5,000 ringgit.
- 3Section 8(2) states that anyone involved in printing, importing, distributing, or selling such publications can face imprisonment for up to three years, a fine of up to 20,000 ringgit, or both.