NGO leader calls for Malaiur Manikam anthology ban
PUCHONG: An NGO leader Datuk A Chandrakumanan of Pusat Aduan Rakyat called for the ban of an anthology, Malaiur Manikam that was authored by Uthaya Sankar SB and published four years ago by DuBook Press.
The book is a collection of 25 essays on Indian culture, Hinduism, Malay rights, Christianity, Buddhism, Sikhism and transgender rights.
In a memorandum sent to Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, that was sighted by The Leaders Online, Chandrakumanan suggested that Muhyiddin use the powers that he has to ban the book under section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act.
The section provides for publications that are considered as undesirable to be banned.
He claimed that the anthology caused confusion among Muslims and non – Muslims and triggered disturbances in a multiracial society.
Chandrakumanan also claimed that Uthaya Sankar was not an authority on Hinduism.
He added that Uthaya Sankar also had written about other faiths
Chandrakumanan added action against errant preachers such as Zamri Vinoth cannot be taken as long as no action is taken against books such as Malaiur Manikam.
“I have gone through the book,” he told The Leaders Online when contacted today.
A copy of the memorandum was also sent to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Minister in Prime Minister’s Department in charge of national unity, P Waythamoorthy.
Uthaya Sankar meanwhile welcomed the Home Ministry to conduct a thorough probe based on Chandrakumanan’s complaint.
“The Home Ministry should also request the complainant to completely list down matters in the book that would justify a ban on Malaiur Manikam,” he said.
“I am also surprised why does Chandrakumanan want to appear as a hero now in championing Hinduism as the book has been in the market since November 2015 and was reprinted in April 2016.”
He also invited members of the public to attend a discussion on the book. The discussion will be held in Setia Alam on Sunday.
