KUALA LUMPUR, March 14 — Putrajaya forked out RM618,250 to publish books explaining the transactions involving 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the largely anti-Chinese themed “Red Shirts” rally held in the city centre last year.

Claiming that both the issues had been politicised, the Communications and Multimedia Ministry said that the books were necessary to clear the air over both the controversies.

“These two books were published to factually explain both the issues.

“This especially since both the issues had been politicised till it caused a significant impact especially for security and national harmony,” the ministry said in a written reply to Rasah MP Teo Kok Seong.

Teo had asked the government to state the number and printing costs for both books which were distributed by Putrajaya’s propaganda unit, the Department of Special Affairs (Jasa), an agency under the ministry.

The ministry said that 125,000 books on 1MDB titled ‘1MDB: Siapa Kata Tidak Dijawab’ were printed in three languages; Bahasa Malaysia (100,000), Tamil (15,000) and English (10,000).

It said that the books on the said topic cost the government RM4.85 per copy, totalling RM606,250 for the 125,000 copies.

“Whereas the ‘Himpunan Baju Merah’ books cost RM6 each, totalling RM12,000,” the ministry added.

Last year, Jasa defended it publication of its book on the “Red Shirts” rally on September 16, saying it was only commemorating a “historic event”.

Jasa director-general, Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi had said that the book — which appeared at the Umno general assembly last year — was to show how street demonstrations should be organised lawfully, and the September rally exemplified that.

* A previous version of this story erroneously reported on the cost of publication of said books and has since been rectified.