GEORGE TOWN: Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has come out in defence of Hew Kuan Yau, who was behind a banned comic book the contents of which were deemed as a threat to public order by the Home Ministry.
Chow said the authorities had misunderstood efforts by the former Malaysia-China Business Council chief executive officer to introduce China’s development and economy.
He also alleged an “ulterior motive” might be at hand concerning the ban, following an outcry by several segments which had, among others, claimed that the book was promoting communism and racialist tendencies.
“I feel there is an ulterior motive with this (based on the) reaction as the book was banned within a day.
“The authorities need to look at the intention behind the book’s publication. They should have asked experts to study it (the book)... but now it has been banned.
“The ban (was enforced) too fast, they said they want to invite historians to look (study the book) but (sadly it is) already banned,” he said at a press conference here today.
It was reported yesterday that the Home Ministry raided Asia Comic Cultural Museum in Komtar here over Hew’s comic book titled “Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism”.
On Oct 23, the Home Ministry said in a statement that the comic book’s contents could “endanger public order and security” and “distort the mind of the public”.
Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the decision to ban the book was made after a detailed study.
Chow said there had been too many misconceptions about China that were likely due to political factors.
“Although it is known as a communist country, the country has hundreds, if not thousands of billionaires. This shows (China’s) development on socialism.
“It is his (Hew) intention to provide an alternative introduction to China on its economic development.”
Meanwhile, Home Ministry officials lodged a police report declaring the seizure of 15 copies of the comic book in Mandarin from the Northeast District Education Office and the Southwest District Education Office.
The Home Ministry officials also declared the seizure of 13 such books from the Asia Comic Cultural Museum.
Northeast district police chief Che Zaimani Che Awang said the seizure was part of the ban issued under the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984.