KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad was never involved in the publication of the comic book titled Belt and Road Initiative for Win Winism and had no idea about its content.
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), in a statement yesterday, said it had been made aware of the issue that had gone viral.
“In the comic book, there is a picture of Dr Mahathir with notes stating that it was a gift from him to China President Xi Jinping during their meeting on the sidelines of the Belt and Road Summit and Forum in Beijing in April.
“The PMO would like to state that the book was not an official gift during the meeting and it (the comic) was brought in without going through proper procedures and channels.”
It said Dr Mahathir had never given permission for his pictures to be used for any purpose, or for the comic book to be distributed in schools.
The Home Ministry yesterday said it was investigating the distribution of the comic book claimed to carry elements of propaganda and believed to have been distributed to schools.
It warned that action would be taken against those behind its distribution. — BERNAMA