AUTHOR Cheeming Boey said he never intended to offend anyone with his 2014 graphic novel, “When I was a kid 3”, which was banned by the Home Ministry yesterday.

The US-based Malaysian author said he was surprised by the ban following protests against the book by an Indonesian group.

Boey, 45, said the book was initially well-received and had allowed him to engage with readers in schools across the nation.

“It was my first book to win first place at a Reader’s Choice Award; so to be banned almost a decade later, comes as a shock to me,” he said on Instagram.

Yesterday, the Home Ministry said the book was banned on September 15 because it contained material that is “likely to be prejudicial to morality”. It prohibited its sale under section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

The prohibition came after dozens of Indonesians, led by the organisation Corong Rakyat, protested outside the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta in June against the book because they claimed it contained a page in which an Indonesian maid working in Malaysia was unfairly criticised.

Corong Rakyat demanded the book be removed from bookshelves. It also urged the authorities to investigate the motive behind the story and accompanying illustrations.

Boey said his intention was not to offend anyone and that he had only wanted to commend his former domestic help.

He said he believed his work was misinterpreted and taken out of context.

“I have focused much of my career and energy into the betterment of Malaysia, putting my country and culture on the map and, most importantly, to inspire the next generation. To offend was never the intent.

“I deeply apologise to the parties that took offence to this, and the people I have unintentionally hurt. I love, and those are not my core values,” he said.

Boey has authored two other books. – September 28, 2023.