In rare move, Putrajaya lifts ban on book that glorifies China, mocks Najib

The government has lifted the ban on a DAP supporter's comic book that glorifies China and mocks Najib Razak - a rare move by the home ministry that is likely to upset large sections of Umno still loyal to the jailed former prime minister.

According to a federal government gazette signed by Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail last week, an order issued in October 2019 to ban the book "Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism" by controversial DAP-linked spokesman Hew Kuan Yew, better known as "Superman Hew", has been revoked.

The book is published by the Asia Comic Cultural Museum and is available in Malay, English and Mandarin.

Despite change of governments, the home ministry rarely lifts bans on publications it deems harmful to public order and security, a frequent excuse it gives for banning books, films and other works of art.

Hew's work promotes China's controversial Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a large-scale plan by Beijing to invest in infrastructure development worldwide.

Published to mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Malaysia and China, the book uses two cat characters to praise China's vision and glorify its history and civilisation.

The comic also takes aim at Najib in relation to the 1MDB scandal, portraying him as buying votes and exploiting China's investments in the country.

It also contained caricatures mocking Najib's wife Rosmah Mansor, as well as criticising the goods and services tax (GST) introduced by the previous Barisan Nasional government.

Hew, a staunch DAP supporter, is controversial for his racially charged speeches.

In 2016, he was captured in a video calling on Sarawakians to "screw the Malays" during the state election at the time.

He resigned from DAP that same year but continued to campaign for the party.

After Pakatan Harapan came to power in 2018, Hew was appointed CEO of the Malaysia-China Business Council before becoming embroiled in the controversy surrounding his comic work.

Hew was in the spotlight again when a clip of his speech during the 2022 general election campaign went viral.

The clip showed him calling on the Chinese community to exploit the disunity within the Malay community by giving them a "knockout punch" at the general election, while telling the Chinese to embrace Malay disunity.

"Now let the Malays who want Malay supremacy, the head-wrapped Malays who want Islamic supremacy, meaning those PAS b******ds," Hew said in Cantonese, in a clip accompanied by Malay subtitles.

"When they unite, we Chinese cannot live. When they are divided, that's when we pound them to *****," he said.

Hew admitted to making the speech, but accused MCA of editing and subtitling the video "for Umno's use".

He was arrested a day before the current federal government under Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was formed.

Police had then said that Hew would be investigated under the Election Offences Act 1954 for remarks promoting illwill and hostility between people, as well as the Penal Code for threats to public peace, and the Communications and Multimedia Act.

He was subsequently released on bail, although no charges were brought against him.

In December last year, the High Court ordered Putrajaya to pay Hew RM51,400 in damages for the banning of his book.