KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 — Author Cheeming Boey said he was taken aback by the controversy over his now-banned book, When I Was A Kid 3, saying an offending story that described an Indonesian maid as a “monkey” was actually complimenting her climbing prowess and not derogatory.
Also known as Boey, the artist and writer said the controversy was due to the comic being taken out of context, adding that he has received very encouraging feedback in the decade since the first of book in the series was published.
He also said many readers had even sent him thank-you notes in appreciation of his work, while others have also encouraged him to continue inspiring others with the illustrations in his books.
“Most of the public were on my side. Of course, there were people and influencers that rode that wave too, by editing the comic strip so it ends prematurely just to stir up even more hate for a book that took years of meticulous hard work to put together.
“I have seen influencers stop the comic at the fourth panel (of Coconut II). In doing so, this makes the comic extremely hateful.
“However, if you read the rest, it is a story of admiration,” Boey told Malay Mail.
In the offending coming, Boey described how his father, back in the day, wanted to show him how fast his Indonesian maid could climb a coconut tree. However, his father then likened her to a monkey climbing a tree to pluck coconuts.
Elaborating on what he felt was a misunderstanding, Boey said his father’s intent was to describe his helper’s superior climbing skills.
“Which is what I was trying to depict in my story. It wasn’t a derogatory comment. Fast as a cheetah, for example. Animal comparisons to illustrate amazing feats have always been a norm.
“Those were the words of my now 82-year-old father, and he said it with no malicious intent, it was to describe agility he himself has never seen.
“We associate great speed with cheetahs, great sight with eagles, and climbing abilities to that of a monkey,” he said.
On Tuesday, dozens of Indonesians gathered outside of the Malaysian embassy to protest the sale of Boey’s comic book over one of its pages that denigrates an Indonesian maid working in Malaysia.
Protestors from a non-governmental organisation known as Corong Rakyat demanded the authorities to stop the printing and sale of the comic book in several bookstore chains in Malaysia.
A day later, the Home Ministry issued a gazette banning the book under the Printing Presses and Publications Act.
“When I first heard of the protest, there were many people on my side, saying that it was taken out of context. Many like me, we’re in shock when we found out the book has been banned.
“I was not told that the book was being investigated by officials, nor was I notified of the ban by authorities. I actually found out about it when someone sent me a Reddit link.
“Then I just went online and found out which part of the book caused a stir myself. The ban is solely on the third book, When I Was A Kid 3,” he said.
Boey said had he been approached, he would have dealt with the situation differently.
“It was because I wasn’t (informed), that, I had assumed that the authorities have read and understood that it was written in high praise, and it wasn’t meant to be an insult.
“I sincerely hope that this matter can be reviewed again, because I have had nothing but good intentions when I pour my heart into the stories — stories that united us as Malaysians,” he said.
In the last decade after his first book of the series was published, he got many calls from schools to share his experiences in person.
“(At schools) I’d share about the journey I took to becoming an artist. From breaking the news to my folks about wanting to study art, to landing my first job interview.
“Much of this part of my life is unknown to people familiar with my books, but the struggle it took to getting there prepared me well for loads of things that I took on later in life.
“I’d talk about how life isn’t linear and you don’t always get what you want, how education can sometimes be the reason we don’t take on a job, and how important it is to do what you want and play to your strengths,” he said.
His other sharing would include his journey as an author and getting all the things published. How one book idea became six, and the stress that comes with writing. Otherwise, it was a mix of both his journey to become a book author and life lessons.
At the same time, he would also talk about the how he came up with the characters, and why art as career diversity is important to a country.
On his plan moving forward, Boey said he would like to approach Malaysian authorities about lifting the ban.
“If the reason for the ban is one story, it can be reworded or taken out. That would be the best scenario.
“The book would live on to inspire others, I would have a chance to right what is wrong after working with government bodies, and it would be a step in the right direction for all of us Malaysians. Especially those who depend on the pen for a living,” he said.
