KUALA LUMPUR: The Home Ministry decided to ban the comic book, “Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for Win Winism,” because of its controversial content.
Its Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said the decision was made after a detailed study, which showed there was indeed a basis to ban the comic book.
“The ban was not because of any sentiment or action against any political parties.
“It is because of the content,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby here today.
Muhyiddin said once the ban order has been gazetted, any sales or distribution of the comic book will be seized by the authorities.
He added that the ban also applies to all three language version of the publication, Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin and English.
On Oct 23, the Home Ministry said in a statement that the comic book was found to have content that could "endanger public order and security" and also "distort the mind of the public".
Muhyiddin added the government had to take a serious view on the matter, since the comic books had been distributed to schools.
“I have communicated the matter to the Education Ministry.
"The book is already banned and it’s up to the ministry and school management,” he said, urging all parties not to read or use the book anymore.
The comic book was a collaboration between Asian Comic Cultural Museum curator Hew Kuan Yau, also known as Superman Hew, and local artist Chong Po Ling, also known as Tomato.
Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik had earlier announced the ban over the comic book in schools.
The comic book supporting the belt and road initiative were reportedly to have been sent to libraries in secondary national and vernacular schools for free, sparking controversy as it was alleged to be politically inclined.