Court overturns ban on Cheeming Boey’s book ‘When I Was A Kid 3’

 

In September 2023, the home ministry banned Cheeming Boey’s book on grounds that that was ‘likely to be prejudicial to morality’ under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

KUALA LUMPUR: 

Graphic novel artist Cheeming Boey won his court battle with the government today after the High Court here quashed the ban on his book, “When I Was A Kid 3”.

Justice Amarjeet Singh gave no reasons for his decision.

The judge said Boey was now at liberty to seek an assessment of losses in book royalties suffered due to the ban. However, he disallowed Boey’s claim for damages.

The court also ordered the government to pay Boey, who was present in court, costs of RM3,000.

Senior federal counsel Shahidah Nafisah Leman appeared for the home ministry.

Following the ruling, Boey thanked his lawyer, Gregory Das, who was assisted by Clinton Tan and Rachel Nyow.

The book was published in 2014.

In September 2023, the home ministry banned it following protests by an Indonesian NGO in the republic.

The government said Boey’s book was banned as it contained material “likely to be prejudicial to morality”, and ordered its sale to cease under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

Boey previously said “When I Was A Kid 3” was about his childhood.

In the chapter that might have sparked the controversy, Boey recounted how his former Indonesian helper had scaled a coconut tree at impressive speed, leading to a remark made by his father that some readers may have found offensive.

Boey said his intention was not to offend anyone but to commend the skills displayed by the woman. - FMT