Hew Kuan Yau has obtained a court order for the government to pay him more than RM51,000 in damages over a ban against his comic book titled ‘Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism’.
The former DAP member’s lawyer Vince Tan confirmed that the Kuala Lumpur High Court today made the order as part of damage assessment in a legal challenge against the 2019 book ban.
Tan said the damages encompass RM51,465 for legal fees, which included RM325 for the government seizure of 13 comic books, noting that the court made no order as to costs.
The counsel said that judge Amarjeet Singh did not give a reason for the ruling, adding that parties - Hew (above) and the government - have 30 days from today to decide whether to appeal to the Court of Appeal over the compensation.
Tan added that the court did not allow Hew’s bid for the government to pay over RM1 million for the book ban.
In 2019, the Home Ministry banned Hew's comic book on the grounds that its content was prejudicial to public order.
Hew filed for judicial review against the move but the High Court dismissed his application in April 2021.
Following this, the Court of Appeal overturned the ruling in June and lifted the ban, prompting the Home Ministry to appeal at the Federal Court.
In December last year, the Federal Court upheld the quashing of the ban.
Hew was once a rising star in DAP and was well-known in the Chinese community for his acerbic and comedic speeches. However, he quit the party in 2016. - Mkini
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