Joint Statement by Civil Society and individuals on Book Banning, Thought Control and Academic Meddling

We, the undersigned civil society organisations and individuals, register our gravest concern and strongest objection to a series of crackdowns on intellectuals from September 25 to October 3.

These include the arrest of Turkish writer Mustafa Akyol, the harassment and persecution of Akyol’s host, Dr Farouk Musa of Islamic Renaissance Front (IRF) and the banning of 22 books, including discursive writings by Akyol, Farouk Musa, scholar Faisal Tehrani (Dr. Mohd Faizal Musa) and cleric Ustaz Wan Ji Wan Hussin.

“Religious teaching without tauliah [proper accreditation]” (Section 11 of Act 559 in this case) is a Syariah offense normally reserved for errant preachers in mosques and surau.

[Gallery] Envisioning the Future : Malaysia Beyond GE14

About 80 people participated at the Envisioning the Future : Malaysia Beyond GE14 workshop organised by Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation.

People’s voice as the central force must be developed in the midst of partisan politics in Malaysia to craft the future beyond the 14th general election. A people’s narrative should emerge to make sure both sides of political divide hear what people want, the director of Monitoring Sustainability of Globalisation cum Member of Parliament for Klang Charles Santiago said.