Home ministry probing distribution of comic book to schools

The education ministry has stopped the distribution of the comic book in schools.

PONTIAN: The home ministry is investigating the unapproved distribution of a comic book titled “Belt and Road Initiative for Win Winism” to educational institutions, including schools.

Home Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said initial investigations by the ministry’s security division indicated that the contents in the publication were a cause for concern as it had exceeded the boundaries of politics.

As such, stern action would be taken against those behind the distribution, he said, adding that investigations into the matter would not be rushed.

“We need to conduct a detailed investigation into how this incident came about.”

He said during his time as education minister, no material could be distributed to any party within the school system, except with permission from the ministry.

Speaking to the media during a visit to the Pontian district police headquarters, Muhyiddin, who is also Pagoh MP, said the education ministry had called for the publication to be pulled back from schools.

Yesterday, the education ministry issued a statement stressing that it had not approved the distribution of the publication.

Muhyiddin was also asked about the demonstration by representatives of five NGOs outside the entrance to Universiti Malaya today, in support of vice-chancellor Abdul Rahim Hashim.

The representatives claimed Rahim was under pressure to resign following an act of protest by UM graduate Wong Yan Ke during the university’s convocation ceremony.

Wong had held up a banner accusing Rahim of racism and called for his resignation when receiving his scroll on stage.

Muhyiddin said it was up to the university’s administration to use its wisdom in settling the matter.

He said UM should use its existing regulations to take action, while ensuring the action was meted out fairly and an opportunity was provided for offenders, be they students or officers, to be heard first.

Muhyiddin also said that it was important that students, irrespective of whether they are Chinese, Malays or Indians, were respectful and did not make racially-charged accusations. - FMT