Comic Ban When I Was A Kid 3 Poses Harm To Morals Ministry

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Author Cheeming Boey's ‘When I Was A Kid 3’ comic book was banned because the publication poses harm to morals, public interest, and state interests by causing concern and unrest in the community, said the Home Ministry.
The ban comes under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, was gazetted on Sept 25.
"Thus, the printing, importing, reproduction, publication, sale, production, circulation, distribution or ownership of the results of the publication is strictly prohibited in Malaysia.
"The government is committed to regulating publications to prevent the spread of elements, ideologies, and movements that contradict sociocultural norms, and can threaten national harmony and unity," the ministry said in a statement today.
It further warned that under Section 8(2) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, anyone found printing, importing, producing, reproducing, publishing, selling, distributing, circulating or owning any banned publication can be jailed for up to three years, fined a maximum of RM20,000, or both.
Last June, dozens of Indonesians gathered outside the Malaysian embassy in Jakarta to protest the sale and print of the book, which reportedly denigrates an Indonesian maid working in Malaysia.
The protestors, from an NGO known as Corong Rakyat, demanded the authorities stop the printing and sale of the comic book in bookstore chains in Malaysia.
The offensive chapter in the book was reportedly one where Boey had described how his father, back in the day, wanted to show him how fast his Indonesian domestic worker could climb a coconut tree.
In doing so, the older man likened the helper to a monkey climbing a tree to pluck coconuts.
Just an analogy
Speaking to Malaysiakini, Boey said the backlash was unexpected because he had meant to share his admiration, and not denigrate her.
“I would have chosen better wordings if I knew it would be such a blunder,” he added.
The author said he was never given a chance to defend himself.
Boey pointed out that his father’s and his admiration for the domestic worker’s ability to climb the tree with ease were depicted as well in one of the comic frames “when we both go ‘wah’”.
“It was not a derogatory comment. Animal comparisons to illustrate amazing human feats have always been a norm.
“If I said she was as fierce as a tiger, is she a tiger now?
“So, to climb, (the comparison) was to a monkey but does not mean that the person is a monkey,” he explained.
No offense intended
Earlier, Boey apologised over the matter, saying he never intended to offend.
In a statement to Malay Mail, the 45-year-old said he believed the ban on his book came after the Indonesian protest and was a case of misinterpretation and in some cases, taken completely out of context.
“I’ve focused much of my career and energy into the betterment of Malaysia, putting my country and our culture on the map, and most importantly, to inspire the next generation.
“To offend was never the intent,” he added. - Mkini

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