Chow Kon Yeow: 曹观友

The Ministry of Internal Security has completed its review of Dr Kua Kia Soong’s book “May 13: Declassified Documents of the Malaysian Riots of 1969.

It has decided that the book would not be banned under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984.

The book is also allowed to be sold in the market.

The Ministry made the decision because the contents of the book do not threaten the security of the country.

The Ministry said the police had never confiscate or issued any warning about the said book.

This is the written reply to my question listed No.22 in today’s Order Paper.

I have asked the Minister to state the outcome of the review of the book.

Since Malaysiakini unveiled the book on May 11, there are a lot of concerns about the fate of the book.

With this announcement, Malaysians can get to read the book without any fear.

I bought a copy last week but have not been able to start reading it yet.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz today tabled for first reading a bill to enact the Evidence of Child Witness Act 2007.

This is a new Act to make provisions relating to the giving of evidence by child witnesses in court.

A “Child witness” means a person under the age of 16 years who is called or proposed to be called to give evidence in any proceedings but does not include an accused or a child charged with any offence.

Part II of the Act deals with the manner of giving evidence by child witnesses.

Clause 14 seeks to restrict the media reporting and publication of the particulars of a child witness in a proceeding which may lead to the identification of the child witness. It also provides for the penalty for non-compliance with this provision.

The debate is expected next week. Anyone with views is welcome to e-mail at mptanjong1@yahoo.com

Parliament resumes this morning at 10am. Deputy PM Najib Tun Razak was among the few ministers present.

As I went through the Order Paper, I saw that the Minister of Internal Security will be tabling the Explosives (Amendment) Bill 2007.

Explosives and Najib were two impressions in my mind then. I was thinking about a magic word “ C4” in the Altantuya murder case. C4 is the name of the explosives used to blow up the Mongolian lady.

A lot of questions were asked, like where was the C4 explosives from? Who can have access to it as it is only available to the police and military? Abdul Razak Baginda is an aide of the Deputy PM and what is the role of the latter?

I cannot read what is in Najib’s mind although he was seated right opposite me in the august House.

Did he see the Order Paper? What was in his mind when he sees the Explosives (Amendment) Bill? Was he thinking about the Altantuya murder case which began today?

Anyway, the DPM only stayed briefly in the House as he left at about 10.20am.

Back to the amendment. It seeks to introduce new sections like section 4A which prohibit any person from manufacturing any unmarked plastic explosive.