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PUTRAJAYA: The Department of Islamic Development of Malaysia (Jakim) has not banned a book by former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew that allegedly offends Muslims.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said Jakim had no authority to ban any book.
"That can only be done by the Home Ministry," he said, commenting on a news portal report that Jakim had banned Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going.
The book, a collection of interviews published in January, was reportedly included in a list of 15 declared haram by Jakim.
In the book, Lee had urged Mus*lims in Singapore to be less strict on Islamic observances.
When talking about race and language, Mr Lee said that "Muslims socially do not cause any trouble, but they are distinct and separate".
Another question posed to him was what Muslims could do to integrate. He replied: "Be less strict on Islamic observances and say, 'Okay, I'll eat with you.'"
When assessing the state of multiracialism in Singapore, he said: "I have to speak candidly to be of value, but I do not want to offend the Muslim community.
"I think we were progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came, and if you asked me for my observations, the other communities have easier integration - friends, inter-marriages and so on - than Muslims," Mr Lee said.
"Jakim only gives its views," said Jamil Khir, adding that Lee's book was still being reviewed by a censorship committee on publications with Islamic elements, chaired by Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria.
Jamil Khir expressed regret that the news portal's action in publishing inaccurate facts could sour Malaysia and Singapore's relationship.
"We know it could take years to write a book. So, how can we just ban a book after a short period of reviewing?" he asked.
Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha told The Star the committee would check if the book's contents violated department guidelines.
The news portal had quoted Jakim's planning and research division as saying the decision to declare Lee's book as haram was made when the committee met in October.
Other books reportedly in the list include Sebongkah Batu Di Kuala Berang by Faisal Tehrani, Mengenal Diri: Ilmu Peninggalan Tok Kenali by Mohd Yusof Che Wook and The Teachings of the Quran by H.U. Weitbrecht Stanton.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Jamil Khir Baharom said Jakim had no authority to ban any book.
"That can only be done by the Home Ministry," he said, commenting on a news portal report that Jakim had banned Lee Kuan Yew: Hard Truths to Keep Singapore Going.
The book, a collection of interviews published in January, was reportedly included in a list of 15 declared haram by Jakim.
In the book, Lee had urged Mus*lims in Singapore to be less strict on Islamic observances.
When talking about race and language, Mr Lee said that "Muslims socially do not cause any trouble, but they are distinct and separate".
Another question posed to him was what Muslims could do to integrate. He replied: "Be less strict on Islamic observances and say, 'Okay, I'll eat with you.'"
When assessing the state of multiracialism in Singapore, he said: "I have to speak candidly to be of value, but I do not want to offend the Muslim community.
"I think we were progressing very nicely until the surge of Islam came, and if you asked me for my observations, the other communities have easier integration - friends, inter-marriages and so on - than Muslims," Mr Lee said.
"Jakim only gives its views," said Jamil Khir, adding that Lee's book was still being reviewed by a censorship committee on publications with Islamic elements, chaired by Perak Mufti Tan Sri Harussani Zakaria.
Jamil Khir expressed regret that the news portal's action in publishing inaccurate facts could sour Malaysia and Singapore's relationship.
"We know it could take years to write a book. So, how can we just ban a book after a short period of reviewing?" he asked.
Jakim director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha told The Star the committee would check if the book's contents violated department guidelines.
The news portal had quoted Jakim's planning and research division as saying the decision to declare Lee's book as haram was made when the committee met in October.
Other books reportedly in the list include Sebongkah Batu Di Kuala Berang by Faisal Tehrani, Mengenal Diri: Ilmu Peninggalan Tok Kenali by Mohd Yusof Che Wook and The Teachings of the Quran by H.U. Weitbrecht Stanton.
