Home Ministry seizes copies of 'queer' book

http://forum.lowyat.net/topic/1531070/+140

By Patrick Lee

PETALING JAYA: Three copies of local writer Amir Muhammad's book, “Body 2 Body: A Malaysian Queer Anthology”, were seized by the Home Ministry from the Kinokuniya outlet in KLCC here today. “They came, and we cooperated with them,” said a Kinokuniya staff member, adding that it was just a “regular visit” and “nothing big”.

Released in 2009, the book is a compilation of stories surrounding the Malaysian lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) scene.

Contacted later, Amir said the ministry was not obliged to inform him about the matter.

“They just walk into a shop and take the copies,” he told FMT. “They don't want to go through the whole legal process (of banning the book).”

“It's kind of ironic, (as) a month ago I decided not to reprint the book,” he said, adding that there were only 50 copies of the book left in the country.

The book has sold more than 2,900 copies to date.

When queried if he knew why the ministry took his books away, Amir said with a laugh, “They can't afford to buy the books, so (maybe) they took them for free.”

As a result, Amir said that the book's distributor would be hiding the books from their shelves.

However, he confirmed that one outlet, Silverfish Books, would continue to sell the title.

Amir is no stranger to the government's book-grabbing tendencies.

In February this year, nine copies of his political satire title, “Malaysian Politicians Say the Darndest Things (Vol 2)” were seized by police officers from MPH Mahkota Parade in Malacca.