July 6, 2012
Now JAKIM’s Turn: Mulling over Banning Book launched by Prime Minister Najib?
by Zulaikha Zulkifli@http://www.malaysiakini.com
A novel launched by the Prime Minister last Tuesday might be banned for purportedly spreading Shiite teachings.
This was confirmed by Islamic Development Department (JAKIM) Deputy Director for planning and research Mohd Aizam Masod, who said the department was now deliberating on the novel Perempuan Nan Bercinta by prominent novelist Faisal Tehrani.
“Yes there are (discussions)… There have been complaints and JAKIMis in the process of taking action. Just wait two or three days more,” he said when contacted yesterday.
According to literary activist and writer Uthaya Sankar SB, speculation of the likely banning arose on June 6 when a JAKIM officer urged the public to lodge police reports against the book during a forum by the Ulama Association of Malaysia (PUM).
When contacted, Faisal said that he is certain that his novel will have a “longer life” considering that the premier himself had recently said that writers should be free to produce their work.
“The PM even referred to (Islamic modernist) Syed Jamaluddin el Afghani’s vision as a benchmark before he launched Perempuan Nan Bercinta,” he said of the the launch, along with 29 other books in Putrajaya.
For now, Faisal (left), who is a lecturer at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, said he will continue to write and conduct academic research.
He is due to hold a press conference tomorrow to announce his entry as an honorary member to Kavyan, a literary group for Indian writers writing in Bahasa Malaysia headed by Uthaya.
Controversial writer
If the ban is imposed, it will be the second book by the author, whose real name is Mohd
Faizal Musa, to be banned in less than a year. His book Sebongkah Batu di Kuala Berang was banned by JAKIM last December, while he had faced difficulties over a screenplay which he wrote for a made-for-television production earlier this year.
The film, directed by well-known actress and director Erma Fatima, was eventually approved and screened on February 4. The Anugerah Seni Negara’s contract for the serial novel Ketupat Cinta, published by Malay daily Harian Metro, was also terminated in June 2008 after strong protests by then-Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin.
The novel Perempuan Nan Bercinta is about a feminist who becomes inspired by a Professor to follow the example of the Prophet Muhammad’s daughter Fatimah Az-Zahra, but the professor is later persecuted by religious authorities.
Fatimah is highly venerated by Shiites and is considered “the Mother of the Imams”. She was married to Ali, whom the Shiites believe was chosen by the Prophet as the latter’s successor.
The book hits the market this week and retails for RM35.
Susahlah macam ni. Semua pun nak ban. If you don’t want Muslims to go astray then improve on the ways you preach. You just don’t impose your views or your teachings without ensuring that people understand them. Jakim is doing a huge disservice to the Muslims of this country.
Allahyarham Ahmed Deedat, frequently says in speeches that the muslim of today lacks knowledge and are not prone to reading about other religions and dare I say that even the Koran is not read n understood enough, so we have “So called Religious scholars going all over the place with their interpretation of the Hadiths and the Koran”,What were the 1st word uttered by Malaikat Jibrail to Nabi Muhammad SAW, Ikraq, read,recite,say ecetera2.Might as well used the Koran as a door stopper or perhaps as an adornment.Islam ke Menyelam.
Lok1,
In order for Ahmad Deedat to do the comparison between the Quran and the Bible, he’d had to open the Bible. Imagine how Jakim would react if some Muslims are to open the Bible to read?
Ya well said didi ” …..then improve the quality & substance of what you preach…..not the way Jais & Mais constantly dealing it superficially merely on face-value……” ( to that effect didi )
To add as well to Lok1, the Comandment ” Read ” ( Iqraq ), does not mean merely reading like parrot, but to stop, ponder, contemplate on each of the steps taken, the full or underlying meaning, and then, if you think you have got it, then climb the NEXT step….if the point was missed then read…read again & again… – that’s the Step-principle, very much like the steps of the Pyramid, so that eventually, the Image of Convergence of knowledge will EMERGE…..until to the point at the Apex on the top from the base at the bottom…..
Allah Hu Alam… ( merely sharing, not preaching )