The motion to ban publication of the book, titled “Belt and Road Initiative for Win Winism”, was raised by Mahdzir Khalid (BN-Padang Terap).

Mahdzir, a former education minister, said the content of the book was unsuitable and had been published without going through the proper channels.

“So we are asking for the distribution of the book in schools to be halted, and for the home ministry to ban the book,” he said.

However, Ariff said there was no need to debate the matter as it is being probed by the authorities.

The 164-page comic book, produced by Hew Kuan Yau, drew criticism after news that 2,500 copies in Bahasa Malaysia were distributed to school libraries as reference material.

Among those critical of Hew, who is also known as “Superman”, were PPBM Youth leader Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman and Education Minister Maszlee Malik, who barred the book from being distributed to schools.

Hew was also accused of racism for calling those who sympathised with the plight of the Uighur minority in China “extremists”.

The home ministry is investigating the issue for unapproved distribution of a comic book.