The Internal Security Ministry has confiscated English language Christian children’s books said to contain offensive caricatures of prophets from several bookshops in three states.

Malaysiakini learnt that these books have been seized from three MPH bookstores in Johor Bahru, Senawang in Negeri Sembilan and Ipoh, Perak. It is unclear if other book retailers have had similar raids.

The raids were conducted by state enforcement officials of the Publications and Al-Quran Texts Control Department under the Internal Security Ministry.

Negeri Sembilan and Malacca department director Faizah Nor Sidek confirmed that a total of 29 books were seized in mid-December from the Senawang MPH outlet.

According to Faizah, her department acted on a complaint from Islamic authorities.

“The illustrations of prophets in the Christian children’s books are said to offend the sensitivities of Muslims,” she said when contacted today.

The six titles have been sent to the department’s headquarters in Putrajaya for investigation.

Faizah said that the department had issued an official notice of confiscation to the bookstore’s management and will communicate the headquarter’s final decision to them.

Director of the Perak department Mohamad Zaid also confirmed that more than 10 books have been taken off the shelves in the Ipoh Kinta City branch on Jan 3.

According to Zaid, enforcement officers received information from headquarters to remove the children’s books.

MPH bookstores management declined to comment, saying that they will wait for the Internal Security Ministry’s official decision.

Officials from the Publications and Al-Quran Texts Control Department headquarters were unavailable for comment.

Christian publications in limbo

These confiscations come amidst other controversial restrictions towards Christian publications.

Customs authorities seized six titles of Christian children’s books last August on the grounds that the Bahasa Indonesia publications contained certain words that were exclusive to Islam.

The words in contention are ‘Allah’ (God), ‘Baitullah’ (House of God), ‘Solat’ (prayer) and ‘Kaabah’ (The Sacred House).

Sabah Sidang Injil Borneo Church – who sought to import these books for their Sunday school classes – have a lawsuit pending against the government and the prime minister, who is also the internal security minister.

The hearing has been postponed to Jan 15 to allow relevant parties to seek a resolution to the issue.

The suit, filed by church president Pastor Jerry Dusing, is seeking the return of the consignment of materials that were confiscated by Custom officers at the Low-cost Carrier Terminal on Aug 15.

The church also want the court to rule on the constitutional right and legitimate expectation to the use of the term 'Allah' as a translation for God in Christian publications as well the right to import such publications.

Last month, controversy erupted over the Internal Security Ministry’s directive to the Catholic church’s weekly publication Herald to stop using the term ‘Allah’ when referring to God or risk having its printing license unrenewed.

The ministry has since renewed the weekly paper’s printing license after public outcry over the issue.

However, the paper will persist with its lawsuit against the government to challenge the prohibition from using the word ‘Allah’.