Gerakan In The News

Insulting “Jata Negara”: Gerakan suggests book publication to be stopped

Jun 30, 2020

KUALA LUMPUR, June 30 — Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia (GERAKAN) has suggested that the publication of a book cover, which allegedly insulted the country’s coat-of-arms, or ‘Jata Negara’, be halted, in respecting the country symbol of sovereignty.

Its president Datuk Dr Dominic Lau Hoe Chai said the action was necessary because in addition to avoiding further interpretation, the publication of the book could create controversy and jeopardise public order.

He also urged the people not to make any speculation on the issue as the publisher had tendered an apology, adding that he believed that the publisher had no intention to insult the Jata Negara.

“Let the relevant authorities carry out their investigation,” he said in a statement issued today.

Lau also advised the book publisher to use a more appropirate book cover illustration adding that book publishers should avoid publishing books with sensitve content.

The book, entitled “Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance, And Hope in New Malaysia”, which used a visual similar to the Jata Negara garnered attention as the picture was said to be insulting the national symbol after the matter went viral on social media.