Home Ministry investigating distribution of comic books to educational institutions

PONTIAN (Bernama): The Home Ministry is investigating the unapproved distribution of a comic book titled "Belt and Road Initiative for Win Winism", to educational institutions including schools, says Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said initial investigations by the ministry's security division, indicated that content in the publication was a cause for concern as it had exceeded the boundaries of politics.

He said as such, stern action would be taken against those behind the distribution, adding that investigations into the matter would not be rushed.

"We need to conduct a detailed investigation into how this incident came about," he said, adding that during his time as Education Minister, no material could be distributed to any party within the school system except with permission from the ministry.

Speaking to the media during a visit to the Pontian district police headquarters Friday (Oct 18), Muhyiddin, who is also the Member of Parliament for Pagoh, said the Education Ministry had called for the publications to be pulled back.

On Thursday (Oct 17), the Education Ministry issued a statement stressing that it had not approved the distribution of the publication.

Muhyiddin also commented on another matter concerning the demonstration by representatives of five non-governmental organisations outside the entrance to University Malaya today, in support of vice-chancellor Datuk Dr Abdul Rahim Hashim.

The representatives claimed that the VC was being pressured to resign following a protest by UM graduate Wong Yan Ke during the institution's recent convocation.

Wong had held up a banner which accused Abdul Rahim of racism and called for the latter’s resignation when receiving his scroll on stage.

Muhyiddin said it was up to the university's administration to use its wisdom in settling the matter, adding that the university should use its existing regulations to take action, while ensuring that action was meted out fairly.

He said it was also an opportunity for offenders, be they students or officers, to be heard first.

Muhyiddin also said that it was important that students, irrespective of whether they are Chinese, Malays or Indians, are respectful and do not make accusations which involved racially-charged sentiments. - Bernama