According to a federal government gazette dated Aug 12, the revocation was signed by home minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail on Aug 6 under Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

Section 7(1) allows the home minister to ban any publication if it might harm public order, morality, security, public interest, or cause public alarm.

The revocation applies to the comic’s publication in three languages: Malay, English and Mandarin.

The comic was initially banned by the home ministry in October 2019, citing concerns that its content promotes communism and socialism, and spreads misleading information about communism.

It was alleged to have painted a glowing picture of China and its Belt and Road initiative, while putting the Western world in a negative light.

On July 6, 2022, Hew successfully appealed against the ban on his comic book. The then federal government attempted to reinstate the ban, but the Federal Court turned down its application for leave on Dec 8, 2022.