Why are some books banned in Malay but allowed in English?

Question

Accepted Answer

Banned Publications Reflect Differential Language Access to Knowledge

A significant number of publications are banned in Malaysia, with a notable trend of certain titles being restricted in their Malay translations while remaining accessible in their English original versions. The Home Ministry's website lists a total of 1,532 banned publications, with the comic "Ultraman: The Ultra Power" being the most recently prohibited item. This linguistic disparity in bans raises questions about the accessibility of knowledge and the maturity assumed for different linguistic groups within Malaysia.
Differential Censorship Based on Language

The Home Ministry has banned specific books in Malay while allowing their English counterparts to be distributed. For instance, Charles Darwin's "The Origin of Species" is available in its original English form, but its Malay translation, "Asal-usul Spesies," is prohibited under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1982. Similarly, Karen Armstrong's "Islam: A Short History" can be found in English, yet its Malay version, "Sepintas Sejarah Islam," faces a ban.
Justifications for Language-Specific Bans

The rationale provided by the Home Minister for banning the Malay translation of "The Origin of Species" cited concerns that it "endangers public harmony" and presents views on the origin and creation of species that contradict Islamic teachings and contravene the Islamic Materials Censorship Guidelines and the beliefs of the Ahli Sunnah Wal Jamaah. Conversely, the English version was deemed permissible because the Home Ministry had "not received any complaints regarding the existence of any infringements of Islamic aspects" according to Jakim's guidelines. This suggests that the perceived threat or contravention is assessed differently based on the language of the publication.
Implications for Knowledge Access and Intellectual Maturity

This policy raises concerns about whether access to knowledge is implicitly being restricted to those who are proficient in English. It prompts an inquiry into whether Malaysians who primarily read and understand Malay are considered less capable of discerning information or making informed decisions. The author suggests this could potentially be a deliberate strategy to limit the intellectual exposure of Malay readers.
Call for an End to Restrictions

The practice of banning translations while allowing original texts creates an uneven playing field for information dissemination. The author advocates for the removal of these restrictions, urging an end to what is perceived as intellectual persecution and calling for the Home Minister to lift bans on all publications to ensure broader access to knowledge for all Malaysians, regardless of their primary language.

Reading history

Hide →

This history is cleared when the page is closed.

Why are some books banned in Malay but allowed in English?

Loading

Was this article helpful?

Helpful

Not helpful

Report an issue

1

0

0

Share with friends