Malaysia

Zunar: “Now they have changed the government, what am I going to draw?”

June 25, 2018

Zunar is back on the road again after his travel ban was lifted and passport returned.

Crossing over Malaysian immigration fot the first time – to London. It was exactly 2 years ago, 24 June 2016, the old regime imposed travel ban on me. Thanks new govt for uplifting it. @CRNetInt @CartooningPeace pic.twitter.com/focPFhseiM

— Zunar Cartoonist (@zunarkartunis) June 25, 2018

Hard to believe it was as long as two years ago that we shared Zunar’s last Tweet from Kuala Lumpur airport when he reported the seizure of his documents and the imposition of a travel ban.

As he heads off to the UK, an excellent article in The Observer details his feelings after the change in Malaysian government and the loss of both his arch tormentors and chief muse in the form of Najib Razak and Rosmah Mansor.

Safe travels, Zunar!

To Report a Cartoonist in Danger Email Cartoonists Rights Network

Zunar Gets His Day in Court

January 12, 2018

A Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur has fixed March 19 to hear an application by Padang Serai MP N. Surendran, lawyer Eric Paulsen and cartoonist Zunar to refer constitutional questions to the court about the Sedition Act 1948.

Read more at https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2018/01/10/court-to-hear-application-over-constitutionality-of-sedition-act-on-march-19/#sw5wEpMy61YrLDSR.99

Zunar fights back against intimidation campaign by Malaysian government

January 5, 2018

Zunar continues to not back down in the face of ongoing efforts by the Malaysian government to silence him. Last week he filed an application at the Federal Court to challenge the travel ban which was imposed by the Malaysian Government since June 2016 under “Special reason”

He also filed a judicial review challenge at the High Court in Kuala Lumpur on January 2nd, 2018 to set aside the ban on his book “Sapuman: Man of Steal.” Home minister and the government of Malaysia are named as respondents in the judicial review application.’The ban was announced in October last year by the Malaysian government because “the book was a threat to public order.”

Beside challenging the ban, Zunar is also seeking a declaration that the ban order is declared void and illegal, on the grounds that it is in violation of Section 7 of the Publication and Printing Presses Act 1984 (PPPA), violates Articles 5 (personal liberty), 8 (equality) and 10 (1)(a) (freedom of expression) of the Federal Constitution. He is also seeking general and special damages.

The government escalated it’s campaign against Zunar by pressing charges against his fans who attended a “tea party” in support of the cartoonist. They will face trial in April.

“Sapuman: Man of Steal” – a collection of Zunar’s political cartoons, was published in 2015.

Zunar Statement on the Banning of his latest book

October 5, 2017

The government of Malaysia has announced the banning of my cartoon book, “Sapuman: Man of Steal” under the Printing and Presses Act as per press report yesterday (3 October 2017).

Previously, my other books – Gedung Kartun, 1 Funny Malaysia, Isu Dalam Kartun (Vol 1, 2, 3), Conspiracy to Imprison Anwar, Perak Darul Kartun and Pirates of Carry-BN – were also banned. Meanwhile Ros in Kangkongland and other titles are investigated under the Sedition Act.

This is just one of the long list of harassments and intimidation by the BN governenment. Since 2009, my office in Kuala Lumpur has been raided a few times and thousands of my cartoon books have been confiscated. The printers, vendors, and bookstores around the country which carry my cartoon works were also raided. I was arrested several times and now facing nine charges under The Sedition Act. The government also bans me from traveling abroad since June 2016.

I dont make fantasy cartoons. My cartoons are results from my reaction on current issues, especially on corruption. For instance, the cover of Sapuman is about 1MDB Scandal which involves billions of Ringgit. If there was no IMDB scandal, I would not produce this particular cartoon. Do not blame the cartoonist if politicians steal billions.

The ban comes a month after Prime Minister Najib’s meeting with President Trump in Washington. Surely the Prime Minister has picked up some lesson. If Trump has Islam-O-Phobia, Najib has Cartoon-O-Phobia!

Let’s make it clear — if the government does not like my cartoons (I do not expect they will), I have no problem with it. But you cannot translate your interpretation into law by banning a book of my thoughts. This is against the Federal Constitution which guarantees freedom of expression.

I have discussed with my lawyers and will file the legal challenge soon.

I would like to reiterate that this ban will not stop me from drawing cartoons to expose corruption and injustice. You can ban my books, you can ban my cartoons, but you cannot ban my mind. When the government is faulty, drawing cartoon is a duty.

October 4, 2017

Kuala Lumpur

Zunar sues Malaysian government & police

August 16, 2017

Zunar, the Malaysian cartoonist accused of sedition and living under a travel ban, has announced he is suing his persecutors.

“Today I filed a suit against the Malaysian government and the police over my illegal arrest and the illegal seizure of more than 1,000 of my cartoon books during my program with fans in December last year. Next step is for the court to set a hearing date.”

We reported about the arrest and confiscation of books at the time.

Zunar’s troubles have continued through the intervening months. Just a few weeks ago he cancelled another public event after receiving threats from government supporters.

He was the recipient of our Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award in 2011 and the 2016 Cartooning For Peace award.

To Report a Cartoonist in Danger Email Cartoonists Rights Network International

Zunar exhibit threatened, cancelled

July 29, 2017

Malaysian cartoonist Zunar reports that a public exhibition of his work has been threatened, not for the first time, with politically-motivated disruption.

He writes:

Announcement
Cancellation of my exhibition in Penang tomorrow due to security reasons, after a threat by PM Minister Najib’s Youth Wing party

With a heavy heart, I hereby announce the cancellation of my cartoon exhibition in Penang tommorow (30th July) because of threat from a group of troublemakers. Penang is at northern part of Malaysia, about 4 hour drive of Kuala Lumpur. The exhibition entitled KETAWA PINK PINK scheduled to take place at an open space at Beach Street in George Town from 8 am to 12 noon.

Penang Umno Youth (Prime Minister Youth Party) has distributed poster urging their members to come and ‘visit’ my exhibition. Based on last year’s experience, this is not a normal visit, but more of an act of physical intimidation. They can become very rowdy and aggressive, as seen at my exhibition venue in Komtar last November.

Also as per last year, there is no guarantee that the police would take any action to stop them. So, I have no choice but to call off the exhibition due to security reasons. Nevertheless, this will not stop me from disseminating messages of anti corruption through my cartoons. KETAWA PINK PINK will be turned into another cartoon book very soon. It covers topics such as 1MDB scandal, DOJ exposures and the purchase of the Pink Diamond, worth hundreds of millions of dollars.

I am also mooting an idea to make it digital open source; this means that it will be made free for the people to download and distribute the book themselves, providing I get the sponsor for the initial print.

Zunar
Political cartoon
29 July 2017