LAWYER and DAP politician Zaid Ibrahim has slammed a Home Ministry ban on his book on Islamisation in Malaysia, saying that religious officials in Malaysia have always feared “thinking” Muslims.

On December 19, the ministry issued an order banning the 203-page book Assalamualaikum (Peace Be Upon You): Observations on the Islamisation of Malaysia.

The book, which was published in 2015 and launched by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was said to be likely prejudicial to public order as well as public interest and is likely to alarm public opinion.

Zaid said he believed the ban was recommended by the Department of Islamic Development (Jakim), and questioned if ministry officials had even read the book before issuing the order.

“The ban is a sad reflection of the government, not my book. Modern societies don’t ban books any more. They educate the people instead,” Zaid told The Malaysian Insight in a text message.

“To suggest that my ideas are dangerous to public order is laughable. The book is not about religion, it’s about public policy. Islamisation is a public policy although a flawed one.

“(The) political leader who signed the banning order probably did not read the book. The recommendations must have come from Jakim.

“Jakim is always afraid that more Muslims are willing to think for themselves.”

Zaid will be filing a judicial review next month to get the book back on the shelves.

The ban order, issued in accor­dance with the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, was signed by the Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on December 4.

The order stated that the printing, importation, production, reproduction, publishing, sale, issue, circulation, distribution or possession of the publication is prohibited throughout Malaysia. – December 28, 2017.