Fahmi, who is also the communications minister, said the home ministry’s decision to lift the ban was based on a court ruling, which the current government also respects.

“Whether individuals agree or disagree (with the lifting of the ban), it is their right (to do so). However, the government is guided by the court’s decision,” he told reporters after launching Huawei Malaysia’s Supplier Ecosystem Convention today.

Fahmi was asked to comment on the opposing views expressed by Umno leaders, such as party youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh and Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi, on lifting the ban on Hew Kuan Yau’s comic book, Belt and Road Initiative for Win-Winism.

In contrast, DAP leaders have called on Umno to respect the court’s decision.

The home ministry lifted the ban on Tuesday. The comic book was banned initially in October 2019 for allegedly promoting communism and socialism.

Hew, popularly known as Superman Hew, successfully appealed against the ban in 2022. Although the then-federal government attempted to reinstate the ban, the Federal Court rejected its application for leave in December of the same year.