The 'abang-adik' relationship of China and Umno

 

Which of the following is more likely to spread communist ideology as claimed by Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zarkashi?

1. A comic book on the Belt and Road initiative promoted by China;

2. Hobnobbing with officials of the Communist Party of China (CPC) in Kuala Lumpur;

3. None of the above.

Is there any truth to the claims by Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh that the book has to be banned because “the sensitivities of the majority Malay Muslims need to be prioritised and preserved to ensure the stability of this country?”

As suggested in a previous column, the hullabaloo over the lifting of the ban on the “Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism” book was caused by the upcoming Umno general assembly.

But here are some salient facts these Umno leaders must consider before they address the subject.

For umpteen years until Umno was booted out of government in 2018, unofficial closed-door meetings were held between BN and the CPC during the Umno general assembly.

Then BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said the CPC was a ruling party invited every year to attend the general assembly, even before the administration of Umno president Najib Abdul Razak.

During the meeting on Dec 7, 2017, the matters discussed included the CPC 30-year Blueprint, Malaysia’s 2050 National Transformation Programme (TN50) to be among the top 20 nations in the world, the One Belt One Road (Obor) concept, and the uniqueness of BN as a multiracial political party which succeeded in forming Malaysia since achieving independence.

Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor

Then came the clincher from Tengku Adnan: “Besides the dialogue between the BN and CPC, dialogues and closed-door meetings with other parties had also been held several times during the general assembly this year and the previous years.”

It was also reported that on Sept 23, 1994, during Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration, Mohamad Rahmat, then Umno secretary-general, visited CPC general secretary Jiang Zemin.

If the meetings had been going for years with BN leaders, Umno included, how come the issue of “being sensitive” and other vague accusations of spreading communist ideology only emerged after the book ban was lifted last week?

Respecting court decision

While on the comic book, let me give credit where it is due. Akmal is right. Umno can respect any court decision, and that does not mean it agrees with it.

But aren’t his party leaders not doing that? In the case of former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak, Umno leaders, including current party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, are disputing the court’s decision, and calling for Najib to get “fair justice”.

Isn’t this a paradox?

To put the matter in the right perspective, the author of the comic book, Hew Kuan Yau, filed a judicial review application against the Home Ministry’s decision to ban it.

“Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism” book

He was never charged for any offence and the Home Ministry banned the book in October 2019 under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

The administrative order cited concerns that it promoted communism and socialism and spread misleading information about communism.

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.

On Dec 8, 2022, the Federal Court dismissed the Home Ministry’s application to appeal against the lower court decision and upheld the quashing of the ban. Further, the government was ordered to pay costs of RM51,000.

So, Akmal, what is there to review anymore?

The High Court, the Court of Appeal, and the Federal Court made their decisions on a judicial review application filed by the author. That’s the end of the matter.

Close the chapter

Akmal’s request that the government file a judicial review against the decision is flawed, but the government has shot this down.

On Thursday, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said while there may be dissenting opinions on the comic book, the lifting of the book’s ban must be adhered to.

Akmal proposes the road taken by Najib, who unsuccessfully sought a review after he was convicted and sent to jail.

Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh

Legal sources say there must be extenuating circumstances to warrant such an application.

So, it is time to close the chapter and move on to more important matters like the rising cost of living and minimum wage. The nation and its people must not be distracted by such petty issues, which involve unsubstantiated claims and theories.

Before the word “sensitive” is (mis)used yet again for political expediency, please put on your thinking caps. - Mkini

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R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.