Govt must pay RM51,000 to ‘Superman’ Hew over 2019 book ban
Published on: Thursday, December 07, 2023
By: FMT
The government was ordered to compensate ex-DAP member Hew Kuan Yew for wrongfully seizing 13 copies of his book Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism, in 2019. (Facebook pic)
Kuala Lumpur: The High Court here has ordered the government to pay a total of RM51,465 in damages to former DAP member “Superman” Hew Kuan Yew, for banning his comic book in 2019.
Lawyer Vince Tan said Justice Amarjeet Singh granted a claim for RM51,144 in legal fees and damages of RM325 after 13 copies of Hew’s book were seized by the home ministry.
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The court, however, denied Hew’s claim for RM1.05 million in damages for loss of income.
In October 2019, the home ministry banned Yew’s book, Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism, under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, claiming that its contents could be detrimental to public order.
The book allegedly painted a glowing picture of China and its “Belt and Road” initiative, while putting the western world in a negative light. It was published in Malay, English and Chinese.
Last year, the Court of Appeal quashed the ban and ordered the ministry to return all seized copies of the book.
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The Federal Court also denied the home ministry’s bid to appeal and reinstate the ban. The apex court subsequently ordered that the case be remitted to the High Court for assessment of damages.
Senior federal counsel Nur Irmawatie Daud and Ng Wee Li appeared for the home ministry.
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