Its publisher, the Asia Comics and Cultural Museum headed by DAP’s Hew Kuan Yew, said the comic book was about Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

“This is for the students to know more about the mega-policy of BRI, from theory to practice,” Hew, who was early this year appointed to head the Malaysia-China Business Council (MCBC), told Malaysiakini today.

But Najib said the book, titled “Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) for Win Winism”, tarnishes him, his family and the previous administration.

The Penang state government has meanwhile distanced itself from the publication, with Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow saying his administration has merely helped lease retail space for the Asia Comics and Cultural Museum at the IT Mall in Komtar.

“We do not know anything about the comic book as we or the Penang DAP are not involved in it. The museum also has nothing to do with DAP,” Chow said today.

A quick check showed the book contains caricatures of Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor, as well as fugitive businessman Low Taek Jo or Jho Low, who is wanted for his role in the 1MDB scandal.

In one instance, a cat character comments about Rosmah’s jewellery as well as the now-abolished goods and services tax (GST).

In another instance, Najib was showed mocking Dr Mahathir Mohamad by saying that “the old man is embarrassing himself”.