Hew's comic book: Teresa pans Umno leaders over calls to continue ban

DAP vice-chairperson Teresa Kok has described two Umno leaders’ call for the party to keep opposing Hew Kuan Yau’s comic book titled “Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism” - the banning of which was lifted recently - as a contempt of court.

In a statement, Kok also accused Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi and Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh of attempts to restrict freedom of speech.

“All parties should forget their prejudice and look forward. At this time, the main mission should be on the people’s interests and focus on economic recovery.

“The court has released a full judgment that clearly stated the comic book did not contain elements of sedition as alleged in the home minister’s statutory declaration,” said the Seputeh MP.

Puad had reportedly urged the government to find ways to continue the ban on the former DAP activist’s comic book, while Akmal proposed for a judicial review to be filed against a decision that lifted the ban.

The revocation of Hew’s comic book ban was published in a federal government gazette on Monday, signed by Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on Aug 6 under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

Respect judicial ruling

Kok said while Saifuddin disagreed with Hew’s views and the contents of the comic book, that is not enough to justify a ban, as decided by the courts up to the most recent Court of Appeal judgment.

“When the Home Ministry respects and enforces the court’s judgment, that indirectly defends Malaysians’ basic rights to freedom of speech and to publicise their views,” she said.

“Puad and Akmal should respect the independence of the judiciary and the judicial ruling, not continue urging the government to go against the court order and try to return to an authoritarian government’s view.

“We must leave behind the old way of thinking filled with divisiveness and fear, and look at history from a perspective that is more open and rational,” she said.

Taking to Facebook, Hew thanked Kok for her support.

“Thank you, Teresa Kok, for your comradeship and support. Respect for the rule of law, rationality above all, reject slander, reject extreme sensationalism,” said the former DAP member.

‘Nothing incendiary’

Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh also condemned Puad and Akmal over their call, stating that it was without basis and in ignorance of the actual grounds of judgment.

Specifically, Ramkarpal cited portions of the judgment that stated when viewed objectively, “there is nothing incendiary in the book that pits one race against another or insults anyone’s racial or religious sentiment or stokes racial tension as alleged in the affidavit of the minister.”

He said the Court of Appeal also ruled that the home minister had failed to point to any content in the comic book equivalent of a “spark in a powder keg” and endangered public interest by inciting racial unrest, disharmony or riots.

“I cannot see any other ground or grounds which can be used by the government to issue another prohibitory order to ban the comic book again,” stressed the former deputy law minister.

“In fact, if the home minister were to continue with the said ban by issuing a new prohibitory order on the same grounds, he would clearly be in contempt of court,” he added.

The Home Ministry banned the book in October 2019, citing concerns that it promotes communism and socialism, and spreads misleading information about communism.

The book, released to commemorate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Malaysia, reportedly painted a glowing picture of China and its Belt and Road initiative, while putting the Western world in a negative light.

The book was also banned as its content was deemed prejudicial to public order.

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