DAP will lose credibility by denying links to comic book - Najib

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak has urged DAP to admit its alleged links to the controversial comic 'Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for Win Winism' in schools or risk losing credibility.

“I have been describing from the beginning what has taken place in the publishing and distribution of the comic book alleged to have been published by the DAP and the Penang (Asia Comic) Culture Museum, and that the foreword is by a DAP leader.

“If it (DAP) wants to deny (any links), then DAP’s credibility is affected as people do not believe (there is no link to the comic). If they (DAP) are directly involved and wish to deny knowledge of it, this can lead to DAP’s credibility being ruined,” Najib told reporters at the Parliament lobby today.

The former prime minister was commenting on the controversy surrounding the content of a comic book created by former DAP member and Penang-based Asia Comic Culture Museum curator Hew Kuan Yau, which touched on issues such as China’s BRI, Uyghur Muslims and others.

Najib first highlighted the matter, claiming the comic was being used to spread DAP and communist propaganda in schools.

It was later confirmed that the Bahasa Malaysia version of the comic book was sent to libraries in national and vernacular secondary schools for free.

Najib alleged that the museum based at Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (Komtar) in George Town, and funded by the Penang state government, was spreading propaganda in secondary schools.

DAP had since, however, denied any links to the Asia Comic Culture Museum.

The book was illustrated by local artist Chong Po Ling, popularly known as Tomato and even featured a foreword by DAP secretary-general Lim Guan Eng, who is also the Finance Minister.

Lim has yet to comment on the matter.

Hew, known by the moniker “Superman”, said the book was intended to encourage school-going children to learn more on the BRI.

He had further claimed a copy had been presented to top Chinese leaders like China president Xi Jinping by Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad in April this year. The Prime Minister’s Office denied having any role in the presentation of the book to Xi.

Meanwhile, the Education Ministry has repeatedly denied authorising the book’s distribution to schools.

Its minister Mazlee Malik said investigations are underway to determine how it was allowed to be placed in school libraries.

Maszlee further called on DAP leaders to discipline its members who do not respect the government’s decision to ban the books from schools.

Najib today declined to comment on Maszlee’s call for DAP members to be disciplined, saying that was an internal Pakatan Harapan matter.

“...but I agree with Maszlee on the steps to restrict the comic book from being distributed in schools,” the Pekan MP said.

The Home Ministry today announced the book, in all the three Bahasa Malaysia, English and Chinese versions - has been banned under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. - Mkini