EDUCATION Minister Maszlee Malik has urged DAP to discipline its members to abide by the government’s decision to withdraw the distribution in schools of the controversial comic book authored by Malaysia-China Business Council CEO Hew Kuan Yew.

In a statement today, Maszlee clarified that his ministry had never sanctioned the distribution of the comic book at schools, before urging schools to return the comic if they have received it.

“I would like to advise any DAP members who are dissatisfied to respect the rule of law. I urge the party to discipline its members who refuse to abide by the government’s decision.

“As the education minister, I have never given the green light for the comic to be distributed and we are not going to allow it.

“If schools have received the comic book they must not distribute it. The ministry is not going to be a tool for any quarters for its propaganda,” Maszlee affirmed.

Hew authored and published the comic book titled Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Win for Winism in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Chinese.

The comic gained notoriety after one of its pages suggested that there was a significant portion of the Malaysian population who supported a regional terrorist group, Jemaah Islamiyah.

Meanwhile, Maszlee also slammed Sg Pelek assemblyman Ronnie Liu for discrediting Bersatu as a coalition member of Pakatan Harapan.

“The remarks by YB Ronnie Liu was disrespectful and was uncalled for. This kind of behaviour is ruining the situation.

“It creates fraction and it is causing problems to our reformasi agenda,” he added.

Yesterday, DAP central executive committee member Liu cautioned Dr Mahathir Mohamad against Bersatu making decisions which are not in line with PH values

He said that if PH breaks up because of Dr Mahathir’s actions, Bersatu has the most to lose.

“Bersatu may have 26 MPs now, but DAP, PKR, Amanah, Warisan and Upko collectively have 113 seats in Parliament, enough to form a majority.

“They can band together and form a government without Bersatu,” he said in a statement.

The controversy over the comic cropped up after former prime minister Najib Razak publicised attempts on having the book distributed in schools.

Najib had alleged that the book contained pro-DAP propaganda while demonising him.

Hew, however, had argued that this was not true as the book was meant to explain the BRI.

Hew had also accused Maszlee of dancing to Najib’s tune, following the latter’s statement that the ministry had never approved the comic’s distributions in schools.

Four DAP state lawmakers were among 43 party grassroots who had issued a joint statement to support Hew. – October 23, 2019.