KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry has gazetted a prohibition order on the controversial “Belt and Road Initiative for Win Winism” comic book, which has already been banned in schools nationwide.
The ministry, in a statement, said the order, gazetted according to Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (Act 301), applied to the Bahasa Melayu and Chinese versions of the comic book.
The order outlined that the printing, import, production, reproduction, publication, sale, distribution, issuance, circulation, distribution or possession of the publications were strictly prohibited in the country.
The ministry said the order was issued against the publication as its contents were deemed as possibly detrimental to security and public order apart from affecting the minds of the public.
“The content of this publication, among other things, seeks to promote Communism and socialism ideologies, and spread false and misleading facts about the Communists.
“It also contains elements, which will evoke support and sympathy towards the Communist struggle.
“It can also sow doubt among readers, especially the younger generation, on the history of Malaysia, resulting in them subsequently disputing the efforts and struggles of previous national leaders who had fought for the country’s independence and development.
“The content of this publication also did not take into account the sensitivities of Malaysians, which comprise people of various races and religions.
“There are also concerns (that this publication) could disrupt the harmony and unity of people in the country,” the statement said.
The ministry said any individual who prints, imports, produces, reproduces, publishes, sells, circulates, offers to sell, distributes or possesses a banned publication was committing an offence under Section 8 (2) of the Act.
If convicted, they can be jailed no more than three years, or fined not more than RM20,000, or both.
The public can lodge a report with the ministry’s enforcement and control division or call 03 - 88868047 or fax 03 - 88891682 or through the ministry’s integrated public complaint system at //moha.spab.gov.my,if they find said banned publications being distributed in the market.
The 164-page comic book drew widespread criticism after news that 2,500 copies in Bahasa Melayu were distributed to school libraries as reference material.
The comic book was the collaboration of Asian Comic Cultural Museum curator, former DAP member Hew Kuan Yau, also known as “Superman” Hew, and local artist Chong Po Ling, also known as Tomato.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), in a statement on Friday, said Dr Mahathir was never involved in the publication of the comic book.
The statement also said Dr Mahathir had no idea about the content of the comic book.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik had announced that the ministry had banned the comic book in schools.
On Oct 17, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow denied claims that the state government was behind the distribution of comic books carrying DAP propaganda in schools.
It was reported that Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman lashed out at Hew for allegedly calling Malays who sympathise with the plight of the Uyghurs of China as “radical”.