DAP Youth chief Howard Lee today distanced his party from a controversial comic book authored by former DAP activist Hew Kuan Yau and published by the Asia Comic Culture Museum.

This came a day after his deputy Chiong Yoke Kong, who is the Tanah Rata assemblyperson, and other DAP leaders defended Hew and launched an attack on Education Minister Maszlee Malik for blocking its circulation in schools.

"The contents of the comic are the personal perspective of the author and an initiative by the Asia Comic Culture Museum.

"Whether that perspective is true or not is up to readers to interpret.

"However, the contents of the comic do not reflect the position of the DAP or DAP Youth," Lee (above) said in a statement tonight.

The Pasir Pinji assemblyperson also stressed that the DAP had nothing to do with the comic.

He added that his party supports freedom of speech as long as it did not contravene the law or erode the rights or welfare of others.

The comic is about Malaysia and China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) but its pro-Beijing narrative has courted criticism.

The comic, among others, described Malays sympathetic to the ethnic Uyghurs in China, allegedly being forced by Beijing into re-education camps, as "radicals".

It had been in circulation for some time but received renewed spotlight after the publisher sent them to schools.

Following this, Maszlee ordered their circulation in schools to cease.

However, Lee's deputy Chiong, as well as other office-bearers in DAP Youth, launched an attack on Maszlee.

Among the 43 people who signed the statement defending Hew were DAP Youth secretary Eric Teh, Selangor DAP Youth deputy chief Koo Jeng Teng and Sabah Youth and Sports Minister Phoong Jin Zhe.

Other assemblypersons endorsing the statement included Chow Yu Hui (Tras), Lee Chin Chen (Bilut) dan Leong Yu Man (Triang).

Earlier today, Johor DAP committee member Mahdzir Ibrahim urged his party to distance itself from the controversial comic, adding that the statement by the 43 DAP leaders and grassroots reinforced public perception about DAP's role in the comic and tarnished the party's image. 

Hew (photo) had in July 2016 quit the DAP after sparking controversy with his comment claiming that the South China Sea belonged to China.

China has laid claim to a large part of the South China Sea, including previously undisputed waters such as the Luconia Shoals which is recognised under international law to be within the exclusive economic zone of Malaysia, off the coast of Sarawak.

While no longer officially a DAP member, Hew still maintains a close relationship with the party.

DAP chairperson Tan Kok Wai, who is also the Malaysia-China Business Council (MCBC) chairperson, had in January appointed Hew as the MCBC chief executive officer.

While in the opposition, he was known for his firebrand ceramah often laced with foul words.