Zunar: M’sian satirists play it safe

Patrick Lee | June 8, 2012

From : Free Malaysia Today 

Reference : http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/06/08/zunar-msian-satirists-play-it-safe/

KUALA LUMPUR: Most Malaysian political cartoonists prefer to “play it safe” when it comes to criticising those in positions of power.

In fact, according to Zulkiflee Anwar Haque (better known as Zunar), many of them preferred to attack those who were “weak” and not able to defend themselves.

“Some people like to attack the weak, so they play it safe. They go after [Opposition Leader] Anwar Ibrahim and [DAP secretary-general] Lim Guan Eng.

“[It is] safe to criticise these people, because they don’t have [the power of the] police (behind them).

“Some will attack [US President Barack] Obama, but they won’t attack (Prime Minister) Najib (Tun Razak),” he told FMT in an interview at his office.

Zunar said that political cartoonists in Europe, the United States and even in the Arabic (after the Arab Spring) regions were more brazen and critical of their governments.

But this, he said, is not the case in Malaysia.

“The role of a political cartoonist is to criticise the government of the day. This is [their] philosophy all over the world,” he said.

He added that Malaysia’s control over the media stopped him from attacking the opposition, whom he claimed, did not get the same coverage as government figures.

“I can attack Anwar if he is given fair treatment in the media. [But] if I attack Anwar, will he be given a chance to defend himself?”

“They [the government] know that Anwar does not have a chance to defend himself… They will just use my cartoon, and will not let Anwar [respond]. Definitely!” he said.

Zunar said in Malaysia it was easier and less threatening to lampoon the powerless.

“It is easy to attack those who don’t have power. That’s why in Malaysia, cartoonists and writers choose that. They [not in the government] don’t have power or the media.

“But if you’re a real political cartoonist, you go [after] the most powerful ones. You take the risk and the risk is very high,” he said

‘If elected, Pakatan will need time’

Known for his sharp attacks on the government, Zunar is no stranger to controversy.

In June 2010, three of his cartoon books, consisting of works critical of the ruling government, were banned by the Home Ministry.

Later in September that year, police raided his office and arrested him under the Sedition Act hours before he could launch “Cartoon-O-Phobia”.

Last June, the KL High Court rejected his suit to challenge the government’s ban on his three books.

“In Malaysia, some people say it is not our culture to do that… because it criticises the government. If you attack the opposition, that’s okay.”

“But if you criticise the government, they use the excuse of this is not our culture. Even for debates, the prime minister says it is not our culture. It is an excuse,” he said.

Asked if he would attack a newly-elected Pakatan Rakyat federal government with the same frequency, Zunar said no.

He claimed that a non-BN government needed to be given some leeway to “rebuild the nation”.

“If the new government takes over from one party that has ruled Malaysia for 55 years, what happens? It’s a mounting task and a challenge [to take care of].”

“When we change the government, I will be among the ones who will help the new government to rebuild the nation.”

“I will give some ample time. It’s very subjective,” he said, adding that the focus was not on BN, but rather the system.

EC ban won’t stop me, says Zunar

Patrick Lee | June 6, 2012

From : Free Malaysia Today 

Reference :  http://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2012/06/06/ec-ban-wont-stop-me-says-zunar/

Controversial cartoonist Zunar is miffed that the Election Commission has deemed political cartoons illegal during the next general election.

KUALA LUMPUR: The drawing of political cartoons, though banned during the next general election (GE), will not stop one satirist from sketching his caricatures.

Zulkiflee Anwar Haque, popularly known as Zunar, said that nothing was going to stop him or fellow cartoonists from lampooning politicians, despite the Election Commission’s (EC) warnings against this.

“Cartoons are legal in Malaysia. Nobody said that cartoons are illegal…Who is the EC to decide whether [political cartoons] are serious or not serious, satire or not?” he told FMT in an interview.

Known for his unflattering portrayals of the ruling Barisan Nasional government, Zunar found it funny that the EC was striking-off political cartoons from its drawing board, when BN itself used them to fight past elections.

He cited the 1986 (7th) general election as an example.

Zunar said that a team led by current entrepreneur Lim Kok Wing came up with cartoons that were used by BN during those elections.

“In 1986, cartoons were widely used by BN… the government booked spaces in the newspapers, [put cartoons] on buntings… why so quiet about it back then?”

He claimed that the rising number of political cartoons criticising the ruling government may have stirred the EC into coming up with the ban.

According to a Bernama report, EC deputy chairman Wan Ahmad Wan Omar said that there were many inappropriate caricatures drawn during the 2011 Sarawak state elections.

Adding that the elections were a serious matter, he alleged that caricatures would “impart a sense of frivolity”.

Unfair blanket rule

The EC planned to take down posters or buntings with cartoons making fun of politicians.

Zunar, a full-time cartoonist, was irked by the decision. He said that the EC should have been going after “irresponsible” cartoonists instead of banning the whole medium.

According to him, many “irresponsible” cartoonists drew without putting their signatures on their sketches.

As such, he said that it would be difficult for the authorities to take action against them.

“You must be responsible for your cartoons and your message. You have to defend your work when people criticise them,” he said, while pointing to an anti-Bersih comic book without any artists’ signatures.

“[On my work] I have my name there, you can challenge me and bring me to court. But with this, who are the cartoonists?”

“Because of one or two irresponsible cartoonists, they want to ban cartoons. If they do that…are you going to ban videos and ceramahs (speeches) too?” he asked.

Traveling cartoonists

In a related matter, Zunar said that he was going to take a team of 10 to 15 cartoonists around KL and Selangor during the next elections.

He said that his team, almost entirely consisting of budding cartoonists, would draw sketches and distribute them to the public or put them up on the internet.

Referring to themselves as Kumpulan Kartunis Independen (Independent Cartoonist Group), they would touch on national issues such as the Scorpene submarine scandal and day-to-day election issues.

A lot of their work is already being featured in the opposition party organs such as Harakah and Suara Keadilan.

BFM Uncensored - "Why pinch when you can punch?" Zunar

Interview of Station BFM : Politics is Not Just For Politicians, It's Every Malaysian's Life

27-Mar-12 13:11 

[ Programme Segment: Current Affairs ]

From : BFM 89.9 The business station

Reference: http://www.bfm.my/current-affairs-270312-zunar-political-cartoons.html

  Malaysiakini political cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ul-Haque or Zunar talks about:

- the Home Ministry officials' unexpected visit to the printer of his latest book, "1 Moolaysia"

- why he continues to draw political cartoons, despite the ban on his books and detention in       2010

- how "doing his homework" before each cartoon is drawn allows him to defend his work

- whether being controversial pays more 

- whether it is fair to impose his views on readers and fans of his cartoons

- his political leanings and how it influences his work

- what he hopes to achieve with a civil lawsuit against the government and police 

- why politics should concern everyone, and not just politicians

For the interview's recording audio, 
please refer to the link below :

http://bfm.my/assets/files/Current%20Affairs/2012-03-27_CA_Zunar_political_cartoons.mp3
 (duration 21m 18s)

Even my pen has a stand! An interview with Malaysian cartoonist Zunar

Posted by Free Word on 8/2/12

Political cartoonist Zunar, whose works are banned in his native Malaysia, talks to Free Word's Tom Chivers ahead of his London exhibition To Fight Through Cartoon.

There seems to be a rise in popular cartoons, graphic novels and animated films engaging with political issues (e.g. Persepolis, Waltz with Bashir). What do you think makes the cartoon so adept at challenging the status quo?

Cartoons, with the graphical advantages, have become an effective media of communication. I am happy to see more and more cartoonists nowadays stepping forward and becoming agents of change - especially in the Middle East and Africa. For me, I am lucky to be one of those born with special talent. But I keep reminding myself that with talent comes great responsibility.

When a country faces a moral crisis, it is important for us to stand up and play a big role. As a cartoonist, it is my responsibility to be a "watch dog" and expose corruptions and wrong doings by the government. I do not agree with those who choose not to take sides. How can I be neutral? Even my pen has a stand!

Your work often tackles controversial issues in Malaysian public life such as racism, corruption and political conspiracy. Why do you think it is important to speak up about these things? What kind of problems do you face in doing so?

In Malaysia all mainstream media is controlled by the government. As a result, any important issues which are not politically in favour of the government such as corruption, racism and abuse of power are blacked out. There are so many important issues missing like conspiracy against the popular opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim with fabricated sodomy charges in order to send him to prison.

  Then, the purchasing of two submarines from a French company by the Prime Minister Najib involving a personal commission of RM500 million (Euro 114 million). This scandal led to the murder of the Mongolian model, Altantuya, who worked as a translator in the deal.

Also the PM's domineering wife, who not only controls Najib’s and the government policies, but the self-proclaimed First Lady of Malaysia, (FLOM) leads an extraordinary lifestyle and likes to shop expensively using public money. And the list goes on...

My cartoons highlight these issues with an accurate perspective and information. I want the public to know the truth. Obviously the government is not happy with me – they banned seven of my books, detained me under the criminal act, they constantly raid my office and the vendors, and printing factories have been warned not to sell and print my books or their licenses will be revoked. Drawing political cartoons in Malaysia is a crime!

Can you explain the reasons behind your current legal dispute with the Malaysian government?

I am challenging the government on two separate cases: the banning of my books and the unlawful detention against me. On July 2010, upon banning my book, the government stated that the grounds was because the content of my books were "detrimental to public order and can influence the people to revolt against the leaders and government policies." I filed to challenge this and the court, as expected, threw out my petition in June 2010.


Then I filed another suit to challenge the police and the government on my detention under The Sedition Act immediately after the publishing of my new book Cartoon-O-Phobia in September 2010. For me, the detention was made under bad faith because by that time the books were not yet available in the marketplace.

I am also seeking a court order for the authorities to return all my seized books. This case is now proceeding and next session will be 28 February 2012.

I firmly maintain that a free expression of political commentary is a fundamental right for me to perform as a cartoonist.

How has the internet changed the way in which you and your artwork engage with people?

By banning my books, the government's objective is to block the public from getting access to my cartoons. But with the rapid growth of the internet, their plan has become less effective. Now more and more people can get access to my cartoons through websites, blogs, on Facebook and Twitter. And the number keeps growing.

How has the Malaysian public responded to your work?

Based on feedback I have received from fans/supporters via emails and texts, they like my work because my cartoons are funny and sharp. Most importantly, my works touch on issues that are being discussed by the public every day.

What can people attending your exhibition at the Free Word Centre expect to see?

To Fight Through Cartoon (launches 15 February) is an exhibition of more than 100 political cartoons from the past 10 years from my own satirical perspective. It documents political issues in Malaysia including racism, corruption, waste of public funds, human rights, the BERSIH protest, the judiciary and the police, to name a few. I hope this exhibition will create more awareness about the political and human rights situation in Malaysia.

Photo by AP

Zunar (Zulkiflee Anwar Haque) has been drawing editorial cartoons for the past 20 years in Malaysia. Zunar uses his pen as a weapon to fight state corruption and abuse of power. He has turned the spotlight on local public-interest issues such as the unsolved murder of a Mongolian woman, the political conspiracy against the former Deputy Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, the domineering wife of the present Prime Minister, and the shady Scorpene submarine purchases that are now being investigated in France.

He started acquiring a reputation as a no-holds-barred cartoonist during the “Reformation” period in Malaysia. Sparked by the sacking of Anwar Ibrahim, the people’s uprising provided him much fodder for comment through his cartoons. The government-controlled national newspapers have blacked-out his cartoons since then and he has to resort to publishing them online. The country’s leading source of independent news and views, Malaysiakini.com, publishes his cartoons on a regular basis.

zunar49@gmail.com

Reference: http://www.freewordonline.com/content/2012/02/even-my-pen-has-a-stand-an-interview-with-malaysian-cartoonist-zunar/