The newly-launched book on the May 13 racial riots has not been banned, a senior government official said, following yesterday's seizure of copies from an outlet of a major bookstore.

Che Din Yusof, secretary of the Publications and Al-Quran Texts Control Department at the Internal Security Ministry, told malaysiakini the authorities are still studying the contents and that a decision would be made "very soon".

"We can finish reading the book in a day and decide whether it should be banned. However, it will take us two to three days to write a report to the minister or his deputy who will then sign the (ban) order and gazette it (the decision, if any)," Che Din noted.

Although the book currently remains free of a ban, he pointed out that the department is authorised to confiscate copies.

A team of ministry officers took 10 copies of 'May 13: Declassified Documents on the Malaysian Riots of 1969' from the MPH bookstore in the Mid Valley shopping centre in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.

According to a letter issued by the ministry officers to the bookstore, the books were confiscated on suspicion of being an "undesirable publication" as defined by Section 7 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

The Act empowers the minister to ban any publication which is "prejudicial to or likely to be prejudicial to public order, morality, security, the relationship with any foreign country or government, or which is likely to alarm public opinion".

The officers also advised the bookstore management not to sell the book as it may be banned.

'No action as yet'

Asked to explain the move to seize copies before the book is banned, Che Din said he was unaware of the operation but stressed that the confiscation is allowed under the legislation.

"The book has created a big impact among the people, hence we can invoke the Act to seize the book. But we can't take action against the relevant parties (publisher and seller) yet because there is no official ban (as yet).

"Even (Deputy Prime Minister) Najib (Abdul Razak, photo) has commented on the book and he seems not to be in favour (of the book being circulated)," he said.

Che Din also reiterated that the ministry's action is necessary as there is unhappiness over the publication.

"People are making noise about the book and have raised the issue in Parliament. We have to investigate the contents (to see if this is) indeed prejudicial to public order and (if this violates) the laws. (Then) we will recommend the ban," he added.

It is learnt that the book had been selling fast prior to the seizure. The publisher, human rights watchdog Suaram, had even placed an order for the first reprint.

Copies had been removed from the shelves when malaysiakini made a check at the MPH book store's Mid Valley outlet this afternoon.

Representatives of the management refused to comment, apart from saying copies had been "transferred out" and referred the matter to headquarters, but officials there would not comment either.

Pay for the books

Suaram said the seizure of the books was illegal and demanded payment from the ministry for the 10 books.

"Or return these books to the bookshop within seven days, failing which we will instruct our legal counsel to take action," said its coordinator John Liu in a statement today.

The Centre for Independent Journalism meanwhile said the ministry's attempt to prevent access to the publication was part of a consistent pattern to curb alternative interpretations of history. It reflects intolerance and discourages open discussion, it added.

The May 13 book is written by academic Dr Kua Kia Soong as a result of a three-month research at the Public Records Office in London to study newly declassified documents and records on the May 13 riots in 1969.

Kua argued in his findings that the riots were not random acts of communal violence but a coup d'etat attempt by a faction within Umno.

He asserts that the coup attempt against then premier Tunku Abdul Rahman was also backed by the police and army with the intention of forging a new Malay agenda.

Kua said official records show evidence that portrayal of the event in history books is heavily distorted, blaming the riots on opposition parties "infiltrated by communist insurgents".

On Monday, Najib said there is no need to "reopen a very sad chapter in Malaysian history", while three senators urged the government to ban the book.

In response, Deputy Internal Security Minister Fu Ah Kiow said the ministry would study the contents and decide on a course of action.