Superman Hew’s book ban lifted

A comic book co-authored by former DAP member Hew Kuan Yau, better known as Superman Hew that was banned in 2019 has finally been revoked.

The revocation of Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism was carried in a federal government gazette dated Aug 12 based on an order signed by Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on Aug 6.

The book published in 2019 by the Asia Comic Cultural Museum is available in Malay, English and Mandarin and commemorated the 45th anniversary of China – Malaysia diplomatic ties.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by sub section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (Act 301), the Minister revokes the Printing Presses and Publications (Control of Undesirable Publications) (No. 3) Order 2019 (P.U. (A) 288/2019) which has been published in the Gazette on 23 October 2019 which prohibits the printing, importation, production, reproduction, publishing, sale, issue, circulation, distribution or possession of publications specified in the Schedule,” the gazette reads.

The revocation was done after the government failed to reinstate its ban on the book after the Federal Court in 2022 dismissed the home ministry’s bid to appeal and upheld an appellate court ruling that quashed the ban.

The book was banned on the grounds that could be detrimental to public order and disturb the thoughts of the people.

Hew challenged the ban via a judicial review.

The High Court in April 2021 ruled that the Home Ministry had the right to ban and keep the impounded copies.

Hew challenged the decision at the Court of Appeal.

In July 2022, the Court of Appeal overturned the High Court decision and ordered the Home Ministry to return all copies of Hew’s book that it had seized previously.