The Pakatan Harapan government has withdrawn the gazetted ban on Zunar's comic book "Sapuman".

Prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, who is also acting Home Minister, had sent a letter dated Aug 2 to the Attorney-General’s Chambers stating that the ministry was withdrawing the ban.

The AG Chambers then sent a letter to the court, dated yesterday, informing it of the decision.

The letter was produced in the High Court in Kuala Lumpur by senior federal counsel Natrah Idris.

Zunar's challenge on the book ban was initially fixed for hearing today.

Lawyer N Surendran said following the issuance of the letter, Justice Azizah Nawawi ruled that the government is liable to pay damages to Zunar.

"The assessment of damages will be made by the deputy registrar," he said.

Surendran said they were only informed today that the ban was removed.

Justice Azizah had on Feb 12 granted leave for Zunar to initiate the challenge on the book ban.

The book was banned in October last year by the previous BN-led government.

Surendran said 'Sapuman' in the cartoon book refers to former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak.

"The judgment is for Zunar and the assessment of damages would be made," he said.

The lawyer said it was good of the prime minister to lift the ban as it was oppressive and wrongful in the first place.

"The book showed the serious abuse of power by Najib and the BN government. The BN government then abused the power of the executive to ban the book.

"Najib has to take the blame as he was the PM then. If he is not satisfied with the cartoon he should not ban it but can take a civil suit," Surendran said, adding that one should not abuse government machinery and power to ban a book or a product if one was not satisfied.

Zunar, whose real name is Zulkiflee SM Anuar ul Haque, welcomed the decision and said this is a victory for all authors and political cartoonists like him.

"This is not only a victory for me but also for all authors for their creative works," he said.