“It is a duty of a cartoonist to expose corruption and injustices” — Zunar
Left to right: Cartooning For Peace co-founder Plantu, Zunar and Kofi Annan
Deputy PM Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi says he will leave it to the police to decide whether to take action against Zunar for exhibiting cartoons critical of Prime Minister Najib Razak in Geneva. Last week Malaysia’s Communications Minister Salleh Said Keruak said that Zunar’s cartoons targeting the scandal-plagued administration of Prime Minister Najib could be considered “economic sabotage.” Zunar was asked to exhibit his cartoons alongside those of East-African cartoonist Gado after the two cartoonists were presented the Cartooning For Peace Award from former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan. The award is presented to cartoonists for “courage, talent and commitment to the values of peace and tolerance — as well as for their fight for freedom of expression.”
Zunar issued a press release in response to the Malaysian government’s new threats:
Zunar is past recipient of CRNI’s Courage In Editorial Cartooning Award, the International Press Freedom Award, and has twice been presented the Human Rights Watch Hellman/Hammett Award.
The cartoons on display in Geneva exhibition, including the work of other Cartooning For Peace members, can can be seen here. An educational supplement to the exhibition catalogue can be seen here.
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