‘How did comic book end up with Xi?’

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysians have a right to know how the now banned Belt & Road Initiative For Win-Winism comic book was handed over to Chinese President Xi Jinping, says MCA president Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

“There are pictures showing Xi looking at the comic in the presence of the Prime Minister. How was President Xi even handed the comic and who authorised it?

“Surely we have a right to know, ” he said in a statement.

Dr Wee urged Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Abdullah and Special Envoy of Malaysia to China Tan Kok Wai to explan.

“Surely Tan will know the circumstances well, he should not merely keep silent, ” he said.

Tan is also DAP MP for Cheras and had appointed Hew Kuan Yau, the author of the comic book, as the chief executive officer of the Malaysia-China Business Council effective Feb 1 this year.

Hew, who is popularly known as Superman Hew, is closely linked to DAP and is the curator of the Penang-based Asia Comic Cultural Museum.

Dr Wee said it was impossible for Tan to not know the content of the comic, adding that the foreword was written by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng.

On Oct 18, the Prime Minister’s Office clarified that Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad did not present Xi with the book as an official gift during their meeting at the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in Beijing in April this year.

The Prime Minister’s Office stressed the book was not an official gift during the meeting, adding that the book was brought in without the proper procedure and channel.

It further said Dr Mahathir did not provide permission for the pictures to be used for any reason or for the comic book to be distributed in schools.

A picture of Dr Mahathir together with Xi, who was reading a comic book, has gone viral on social media.

The Home Ministry on Wednesday banned the comic book, saying it promoted communism and socialism ideologies, among other things.

It also said that the publication seemed to have not taken into account the sensitivities of a multiracial and multireligious Malaysia.

“This whole episode has made Malaysia and the Pakatan Harapan government a laughing stock, ” said Dr Wee.

“A comic book, which has some form of involvement by the Federal Government, is now banned by the government.”

He also asked if taxpayers’ money is being used in the running of the Malaysian-Chinese Business Council and if the Penang state government supported the Asia Comics and Cultural Museum as it was based in Komtar where state government offices are located.

Dr Wee said that although Hew was officially a former DAP member, he was still influential in the party, noting that the fiery orator had only left the party because of the many negative controversies concerning him.

With his fondness for wearing T-shirts with the superhero’s crest at DAP events, Hew stirred controversy for allegedly playing up racial issues at a ceramah in Sarawak in 2016.

Dr Wee said it was farcical that the Pakatan government, via the Home Ministry, had banned a comic book when Pakatan leaders used to hit out at the then Barisan Nasional government for banning comic books.

“We have a comical character, the self-declared Superman Hew, a banned comic book and the errors of comedy involving the Prime Minister’s Office, Foreign Ministry and Special Envoy to China.

“I am sure Beijing must be wondering what’s happening in Malaysia as the actions are all super confusing.

“First, the PM offended India with his remarks on Kashmir. Now, Beijing must be trying to read what this is all about, ” he said.

Dr Wee also expressed concern over the handling of Malaysia’s foreign relations by Dr Mahathir.

“Let’s not offend the big powers anymore. We cannot afford to make India or China angry with unwarranted remarks, ” he added.