Kok: Respect court decisions, Puad, Akmal

Seputeh MP Teresa Kok urged Umno supreme council member Datuk Mohd Puad Zarkashi, and Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Salleh to respect judicial independence and court rulings, and to uphold freedom of speech and publishing in view of their recent criticism.

“Puad and Akmal Saleh should respect judicial independence and court decisions, rather than calling for the government to violate court orders and revert to authoritarian thinking,” Kok of DAP said via a Facebook post.

She said this after Puad and Akmal urged the government to ban the comic book Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism again.

She said that the court has issued a clear judgement stating that the book does not contain the incitement content alleged in the Home Minister’s affidavit.

“The judge also noted that dissatisfaction from an individual or group should not restrict freedom of speech.

“Although the Home Minister disagrees with the book’s content, including Hew Kuan Yau’s interpretation of history, worldview, and current issues, especially concerning the “Belt and Road Initiative” and Xinjiang, this does not justify banning the book,” she said.

In July 2022, the Court of Appeal ruled that the book should not be classified as prohibited, and in December 2022, the Federal Court rejected the Home Ministry’s appeal and instructed Hew to seek compensation from the government.

“By respecting and implementing court decisions, the Home Ministry indirectly upholds the fundamental rights of Malaysians, particularly freedom of speech and publication.

“This decision reflects the judiciary’s firm stance on freedom of speech and publication,” she said.

“We must abandon outdated, divisive, and fearful thinking, and view history from a more open and rational perspective,” she added.

She said national development should be based on inclusivity, openness, and the rule of law.

Only by embracing inclusivity, rule of law and openness can Malaysia progress towards democracy and transparency, rather than suppressing dissent to maintain power, she added.

She said everyone needs to set aside past prejudices and focus on the future.

“The main mission now is to prioritise the interests of the people and focus on economic recovery,” she said.

Yesterday the Home Minister lifted the ban on “Belt and Road Initiative: Mutual Benefit for Win Winnism,” a political comic book by former DAP member Hew Kuan Yau.

Originally banned on October 23, 2019, the book was published by the Asia Comic Cultural Museum to mark the 45th anniversary of China-Malaysia diplomatic relations.

It is available in Malay, English, and Mandarin.