KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry has ordered a prohibition of the publication of 12 books, which contain elements that can threaten public order and morality.

Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said the directive, enforced on Jan 6 and Jan 9, was according to Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

"According to Section 8 subsection 2, it is an offence to print, import, produce, reproduce, publish, sell, issue, circulate, offer for sale, distribute or have in his possession for such purpose any prohibited publication," he said in a statement here on Tuesday.

Those convicted of this offence face imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding RM20,000, or both.

The banned titles are Akhirnya Ku Temui Kebenaran by Dr Muhammad Al-Tijani Al-Samawi/translated by UIA Islamic Studies Group, Agama Politik Nalar Politik Islam (Ahmad Vaezi/Ali Syahab), 99 Wasiat Imam Ja'far Ash-Shadiq Lentera Ilahi (Imam Ja'far Ash-Shadiq/Rahmani Astuti), Saling Memberi Saling Menerima (Sayyid Mahdi As Sadr /Ali Bin Yahya), Fatwa-Fatwa 2 Soal-Jawab Seputar Muamalah Ahlulbait (Ayatullah Al-Uzhma Imam Ali Khamenei/Mubsin Labib), Teladan Abadi Ja'far Shadiq Sang Mahaguru (Husain Nahrawi), Teladan Abadi Hasan Askari Tumpuan Kaum Papa (M.Ilyas & Hasan Al-Habsyi), Teladan Abadi Husain Syahid (Abdullah Beik), Fatimah Az-Zahra' & 9 Keturunannya Yang Mulia (Tarikuddin Haji Hassan), Imamul Muhtadin 'Ali Bin Abi Thalib' (H.M.H Al-Hamid Al-Husaini), Meniti Titian Kebenaran (Khair Izzah) and Memories Of Muhammad: Why The Prophet Matters (Omid Safi). - Bernama