GEORGE TOWN: The Home Ministry today seized 13 ‘Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism’ comic books in a raid at the Asia Comic Cultural Museum in Komtar here today.
A source said the 11am operation was conducted after the ministry issued a ban on the publication yesterday.
"The enforcement team found only 13 copies were still on display at the museum,” the source said.
Following the ban of the comic book, anyone found printing, importing, reproducing, producing, selling, distributing or offering the book for sale can be jailed up to three years and fined not more than RM20,000 or both.
On Oct 23, the Ministry said in a statement that the comic book's content could "endanger public order and security" and also "distort the mind of the public".
The comic book was a collaboration between 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.
Meanwhile, a museum staff, who refused to be identified, said they were not informed of the comic book's ban.
Since there was no instruction from the management, the staff said the museum was opened as usual from 11am to 7pm.
Earlier, Home Minister Tan Sri Muyhiddin Yassin said that the decision to ban the book was due to its controversial content.
“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, in Bahasa Melayu, Mandarin or English, will be seized by the authorities.