Govt respects ruling on lifting Hew's book ban: Fahmi

The government respects the court’s ruling over the “Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism” comic book, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.

He said while there may be dissenting opinions on the book by former DAP member Hew Kuan Yau, the lifting of the book’s ban must be adhered to.

“It was based on a court decision, so we must respect that.

“Whether there are individuals or any party that agrees or disagree with (the decision), that’s their right,” he said in a press conference at an event in Kuala Lumpur today.

Fahmi's remarks came amidst several Umno and DAP leaders trading barbs over the court's ruling.

Earlier today, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh took a swipe at DAP's Seputeh MP Teresa Kok for defending the ban lift, which the latter accused those who opposed the ruling of not respecting the court's decision.

The Merlimau assemblyperson was responding to Kok’s remark describing his and Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi’s call to keep opposing the lifting of the ban as being in contempt of court and an attempt to restrict freedom of speech.

Kok said the duo should respect the judiciary’s independence and its ruling, rather than asking the government to go against the court order and try to return to an authoritarian government.

Yesterday, Puad urged the government to find ways to continue the ban on the book, while Akmal proposed a judicial review to be filed against a decision that lifted the ban.

The revocation of the 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.

The Home Ministry announced the ban on Oct 23, 2019. On April 26, 2021, the High Court dismissed Hew’s application to quash the ban.

On July 6, 2022, the Court of Appeal allowed Hew’s review to quash the ban. Then on Dec 8, 2022, the Federal Court dismissed the Home Ministry’s appeal, thereby sustaining the Court of Appeal’s decision.

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