March 11, 2005

Wild book of Borneo may be banned . . .

by

A book that has “become hugely popular in small, independent stores” and is the ” talk of dinner parties” throughout Malaysia may be banned by the government because it speculates about how the son-in-law of the current prime minister might become head of the country himself. An Associated Press / Borneo Bulletin story says “Meanwhile, authorities are urging bookstores not to sell Khairy Jamaluddin: Future Prime Minister? written by veteran political author Yahaya Ismail.” An anonymous government official says no final decision on the banning has been reached, but in the meantime, “it is advisable for bookstores not to sell it, since our enforcement teams might confiscate copies of the book because it’s become controversial.”

Dennis Johnson is the founder of MobyLives, and the co-founder and co-publisher of Melville House.

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