KUALA LUMPUR: Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob today launched a book written by his former officer during his time as the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Minister.
Titled 'Jangan Pajak Otak' (JPO), it is written by Liyana Marzuki who worked under Ismail Sabri as an officer in the ministry's legal department from 2008 to 2012.
Ismail Sabri, who is also a former prime minister, hoped the book which touches on political analysis and current issues from Liyana's perspective would cultivate a reading culture among Malaysians.
"We need to do plenty of writing to foster a culture of reading because I believe the reading culture is currently lacking in the community.
"Maybe with more aspiring writers, we can change that," he said when launching the book today.
Also present were the current prime minister's senior political secretary Datuk Seri Shamsul Iskandar Mohd Akin and Kumpulan Karangkraf chairman Firdaus Hussamuddin.
'Jangan Pajak Otak'delves deep into the inside stories in the country's political arena.
It covers topics from money politics to patronal politics in addition to the culture of warlords and sabotage within Malaysian political parties.
Several chapters are dedicated to examining the Malay dilemma and addressing the behaviour of religious fanatics.
Ismail Sabri said the fact that the book touches on negative cultures within politics dirty proved that Malaysia upheld freedom of speech.
"One might tell me it can be dangerous to launch a book without even reading it first as the content could be controversial.
"But Malaysia, in terms of its constitution, gives the freedom to write and the freedom to give opinions."