Talks Across The Globe
Zunar
Talks Across the Globe
Switzerland
Defending Artistic Expression - Time For The UN To Act
Speaking at a high-level panel alongside UN Special Rapporteur David Kaye and global artists, Zunar urged the UN to step up protections and implement binding protective mechanisms for international creators facing structural persecution. He famously repeated his defining professional slogan: "How can I be neutral? Even my pen has a stand." This appearance took place just weeks before he returned home to face a record nine systemic sedition charges.
Side Event on Freedom of Expression and Rule of Law
In his second consecutive United Nations forum, Zunar joined human rights groups to brief international diplomats on the weaponisation of Malaysia's colonial-era Sedition Act. He displayed his banned artwork to illustrate how the government was systematically jailing opposition leaders, lawyers, and journalists, arguing that censoring political cartoonists is a calculated tactic by corrupt regimes to block the public from understanding multi-billion dollar state corruption scandals.
Global BERSIH Event - Lunch with Zunar
Speaking to the Malaysian diaspora alongside human rights defenders Lukas Straumann and representatives from FIDH, Zunar used a live cartoon drawing demonstration and open Q&A to rally support for democratic reform and freedom of expression. He showcased artistic caricature as a peaceful tool of political resistance, emphasizing international solidarity just weeks before returning to Malaysia to face unprecedented state persecution.
Fight Through Cartoon Exhibition & Talk
Speaking to the Malaysian diaspora alongside human rights defenders Lukas Straumann and representatives from FIDH, Zunar used a live cartoon drawing demonstration and open Q&A to rally support for democratic reform and freedom of expression. He showcased artistic caricature as a peaceful tool of political resistance, emphasizing international solidarity just weeks before returning to Malaysia to face unprecedented state persecution.
International Editorial Cartoons Prize Ceremony, Panel & Press Club Features
Zunar traveled to Switzerland on World Press Freedom Day to receive the prestigious 2016 Cartooning for Peace Award, presented directly to him by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. In his acceptance speech and subsequent press briefings, he argued that talent is not merely a gift but a strict social responsibility. He detailed the heavy financial and professional costs of defending free speech, vowing to continue deploying sharp political art to counter governmental corruption and state intimidation until his "last drop of ink."
Cartooning Against Intolerance Debate
Featuring simultaneous English and French interpretation, this high-level United Nations panel addressed an influential audience of Permanent Missions to the UN, international NGOs, and global media outlets. Headlined by prominent international editorial cartoonists Zunar, Gado, Plantu, Chappatte, and Liza Donnelly, the speakers used their collective creative platforms to critique institutional censorship and promote cross-cultural understanding, demonstrating how satirical art serves as a vital democratic tool to combat systemic intolerance, defend human rights, and challenge authoritarian overreach worldwide.
Acceptance Speech for the Cartooning for Peace Award
Upon receiving the prestigious award from former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Malaysian political cartoonist Zunar delivered a fierce declaration against state oppression and censorship. Facing a cumulative 43 years in prison under Malaysia's Sedition Act, he proclaimed that artistic talent is a profound responsibility to be weaponized against tyranny. He urged fellow creators to remain fearless, asserting that lines drawn by satirists have the unique power to guide societies across the threshold of state-imposed fear.
United States of America
Award for Courage in Editorial Cartooning Acceptance Speech
Zunar formally accepted the global CRNI courage award from CRNI President Joel Pett. He emphasized his core philosophy of "Why Pinch When You Can Punch!" and explained that because the Malaysian government strictly controls mainstream media licensing, editorial cartooning serves as an independent civic weapon to expose state corruption and strict media censorship.
American Editorial Cartoonists Solidarity Demonstration
Organized by professional American political cartoonists, a high-profile solidarity demonstration was staged directly in front of the Malaysian Embassy in Washington, D.C. Prompted by the Malaysian government’s decision to hit Zunar with nine systemic sedition charges, his international peers used the protest to aggressively condemn the criminalization of creative free expression. Holding up copies of his banned illustrations and signs demanding his immediate release, the U.S. cartooning community actively lobbied Washington officials and international bodies to pressure Kuala Lumpur to drop the 43-year potential prison sentence weaponized against him. Zunar later cited this profound act of diplomatic, cross-border solidarity as a crucial turning point that kept global media attention firmly locked onto his judicial battles back home.
Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award Ceremony & Presentation
Formally receiving his delayed international honor, Zunar headlined the CRNI annual ceremony held inside GWU's Jack Morton Auditorium. Speaking directly to North American editorial cartoonists, legal advocates, and global journalists, Zunar used the prestigious academic platform to display his banned publications. He detailed his intense legal battles against the Malaysian government's arbitrary police raids and book seizures, emphasizing his definitive career philosophy: "In a country with no media freedom, cartooning is the only alternative media left to fight oppression."
2014 Annual Lecture on Asian Democracy: To Fight Through Cartoons, Even My Pen Has a Stand
Invited as the keynote speaker by the Center for Asian Democracy, Malaysian cartoonist Zunar detailed his high-stakes battle against state-sponsored censorship and legislative intimidation. Speaking to an American academic and public audience, he exposed how the Malaysian government weaponizes repressive legislation like the Sedition Act to raid printing factories, ban satirical books, and restrict core civil liberties. Zunar leveraged this prominent international platform to exhibit his banned artwork and assert his defining artistic principle—that visual satire is a fundamental frontline democratic mechanism required to challenge systemic corruption and combat executive overreach.
Great Day Live Morning Show Interview
Zunar targeted a mainstream American television audience to explain how simple pen-and-ink illustrations bypass political rhetoric, translating deep systemic corruption and severe human rights violations into universally understood visual metaphors.
To Fight Through Cartoon Talk Session & Book Promotion
Marking his very first bookstore event in the United States, Malaysian cartoonist Zunar held an intimate public talk and book promotion from 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM at the renowned cultural hub Busboys and Poets. Following his keynote lecture in Kentucky, he utilized this D.C. platform to introduce his heavily suppressed cartoon compilation, Pirates of the Carry-BN, directly engaging with local American audiences and the overseas Malaysian diaspora. Zunar detailed his fierce legal battles against Malaysia’s Sedition Act and Press Acts, reinforcing his unwavering commitment to using sharp visual satire to expose deep-rooted political corruption and elite state scandals back home.
To Fight Through Cartoon US Tour Opening & Lecture
Organized jointly by the University of Louisville and the Asia Institute, this event marked the official opening speech of Zunar’s multi-city autumn US tour running from September 15 to October 15, 2014. In conjunction with the launch of his comprehensive three-month solo art exhibition featuring 40 pieces of his work since 1998, Zunar delivered a specialized academic lecture. He utilized this prominent American platform to educate faculty, students, and global human rights advocates on how the Malaysian government relies on aggressive political suppression, state police raids, and ongoing threats of arbitrary detention under the Sedition Act to muzzle critical cartoonists.
Cartoon Workshop at duPont Manual High School
Sponsored by the University of Louisville Center for Asian Democracy, Zunar engaged with student journalists to outline how editorial cartooning serves as a potent instrument of counter-propaganda and societal critique.
Zunar's Guest Lecture at the Patterson School
In a special presentation to international relations students and faculty, Zunar outlined how editorial illustration acts as a potent instrument of counter-propaganda in highly censored environments.
Fight Through Cartoon
The lecture at the School of Liberal Arts was part of his month-long US tour, where he spoke about political art, censorship, and human rights while promoting his newly released book at the time, Pirates of the Carry-BN.
The Art of Dissent: Regional Academic Feature
While Zunar’s primary keynote residency in the state was anchored in Louisville, his extensive cartoon panels, books, and legal case details were distributed across the broader regional university network to educate American political science and graphic arts students. The media packages highlighted how a singular creator can leverage visual parody to challenge heavily controlled media landscapes. Zunar’s core message to the state's academic audience was that cross-border awareness is a vital shield for artists under fire, demonstrating that the fight for freedom of expression in Southeast Asia directly affects global democratic discourses.
To Fight Through Cartoon
Zunar spoke before American curators, scholars, and library collectors about the enduring role of political caricature as a crucial visual historical archive that preserves historical truth during eras of heavy state censorship.
Live Drawing for Freedom
Staging an outdoor public live-drawing session in the middle of Washington Square Park, Zunar created large-scale political sketches on the spot to directly engage American crowds. While out on bail and facing systematic legal intimidation from the Malaysian government, he used this visual platform to raise global awareness about his banned cartoon books and the suppression of free expression. Through his live illustrations, Zunar explicitly demonstrated to the international public how creative art functions as a peaceful, highly visible, and powerful tool of democratic resistance against state corruption and authoritarian overreaction.
An Evening with Zunar
Hosted as an intimate dinner gathering at Nini's house, Zunar engaged directly with the San Francisco Bay Area Malaysian diaspora just one week after his Sunnyvale stop. Moving his focus across the East Bay, he highlighted how deep-rooted political scandals and legislative intimidation threaten the baseline of free expression back home in Malaysia. Zunar used this informal residential setting to exhibit his banned political drawings, urging overseas citizens to leverage their geographic safety to amplify independent media streams and demonstrate how creative visual satire remains a vital cross-continental instrument for resisting state censorship.
Annual Convention of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC) / Satire Fest
Attending as an honored international guest speaker, Malaysian cartoonist Zunar participated in the three-day annual convention starting on October 9, 2014.
Stepping onto the convention stage following his Book Acceptance ceremony at the Library of Congress, he addressed a major gathering of professional North American and international editorial cartoonists. Zunar detailed the severe, state-sanctioned persecution he faced at home—including police raids, book bans, and investigations under the Sedition Act - while sharing his steadfast belief that cartoonists must act as democratic shields against corruption, political intimidation, and systemic human rights abuses.
CRNI Safety & Security of Cartoonists Exhibition & Panels
Addressing a major academic gathering, Zunar spoke to American comic artists and international human rights advocates at OSU’s landmark cartoon archive library. Under the heavy shadow of his impending domestic trial and facing nine active sedition charges back home, he used his panel time to highlight the escalating worldwide dangers facing satirists. Zunar exhibited his banned drawings to illustrate how political caricature serves as a crucial line of defense for free speech, declaring that creative resistance must continuously challenge state-sponsored corruption and institutional overreach even in the face of long-term prison sentences.
To Fight Through Cartoon
Speaking to journalism and law students, Zunar detailed the financial and operational realities of running independent online platforms to distribute artwork after facing strict domestic publication and retail bans.
International Press Freedom Award Acceptance Speech
Presented the award by legendary cartoonist Garry Trudeau, Zunar delivered a speech declaring, "The government of Malaysia is a cartoon government – a government of the cartoon, by the cartoon, for the cartoon." Facing 43 years in prison under the Sedition Act at the time, he forcefully emphasized that "laughter is the best form of protest" and dedicated his honor to fellow Malaysians pushing for total political reform.
Freedom of Expression in a Changing World: What Cannot Be Said
Participating in a prominent international freedom conference alongside global figures like Edward Snowden, Zunar spoke before an audience of American academics, law students, and human rights practitioners. Facing a potential 43-year prison sentence back home under Malaysia's archaic Sedition Act, he joined a specialized roundtable of notable editorial cartoonists to discuss state censorship, self-censorship, and political intimidation. Zunar used this California platform to exhibit his banned political drawings and outline how satirical art acts as an essential frontline mechanism to expose elite corruption and protect civil liberties against executive tyranny.
An Evening with Zunar
Organized and hosted by Bersih California, this specialized diaspora event gathered overseas Malaysians at a private residential venue to directly support Zunar's fight for electoral reform and free speech. Moving beyond general human rights panels, Zunar engaged closely with the local civil society group to expose the deepening 1MDB corruption scandal and detail the 9 systemic sedition charges weaponized against him back home. He strongly encouraged the California Bersih network to utilize their strategic digital positions abroad to bypass heavily censored domestic state media, amplify underground democratic movements, and actively advocate for transparent institutional reform in Malaysia.
When They Throw the Book at Him, He Throws It Back
Organized by Association of American Editorial Cartoonists (AAEC) / Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI). Introduced by Swiss editorial cartoonist Patrick Chappatte, Zunar celebrated the lifting of his travel ban by presenting a keynote dialogue right after Malaysia's landmark general election. He shared how global public support kept him drawing despite facing 43 years in prison, urging American graphic artists to never self-censor or dilute their visual commentary, as political cartooning remains the most lethal weapon against institutional corruption and power abuses.
"The Malaysian government has no sense of humor - and that’s dangerous"
Zunar kicked off 2016 by publishing a high-profile opinion piece in The Washington Post. He used this prominent American newspaper platform to explain how his arrest constituted systemic harassment against political cartoonists in Malaysia.
A Malaysian Political Cartoonist on Facing His Fears, and Prison, for Art
Following a highly publicized, violent physical assault by a pro-government mob and a subsequent police arrest at the George Town Literary Festival in Penang, Zunar conducted an extensive interview profile with The New York Times. Trapped within Malaysia under an aggressive travel embargo, he broadcasted his message to the American public, detailing how authorities actively confiscated over $20,000 worth of his books and reaffirming his global commitment to draw "until the last drop of my ink."
Italy
Cartooning in Malaysia: The Art of Protest
Zunar shared his biting satirical critiques of Malaysian political corruption at NYU's historic campus, recounting the severe institutional raids, book bans, and harassment he endured while facing 43 years in prison under the Sedition Act.
France
Press Freedom and Editorial Cartoonists Forum
Partnering with Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Zunar held a strategic session at their central Paris bureau to spotlight the expanding clampdown on political expression in Malaysia. Coinciding with the global launch of his heavily targeted cartoon compilation, The Conspiracy to Imprison Anwar, he detailed how the ruling administration extensively relied on draconian statutes like the Sedition Act to initiate state raids, orchestrate arbitrary police detentions, and implement blanket bans on print publications. Zunar utilized this cross-border press platform to explicitly appeal for heightened international monitoring, asserting that independent visual satire plays an indispensable democratic role in exposing executive corruption and must be protected by global press advocacy coalitions.
An Evening with Zunar
Gathering at a prominent Indonesian restaurant in the heart of Paris, Zunar participated in an informal public discussion with the local Malaysian diaspora and human rights advocates. Following his high-profile press forum at the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) headquarters, he used this casual dining setting to share the ground realities of his legal struggles in Malaysia. Zunar showcased copies of his banned cartoon book, The Conspiracy to Imprison Anwar, and detailed how the ruling administration used police raids and censorship to stifle dissent, urging the overseas community to support the fight for free expression.
International Symposium "Le dessin de presse dans tous ses États"
Zunar shared his experiences of facing extensive prison time under Malaysia's Sedition Act. He highlighted the universal role of editorial cartoons as essential tools for peace, tolerance, and unyielding public dialogue in the face of rising global censorship and violent intimidation.
Cartooning for Peace International Gala & Reception
Staged on the exact same day as his international human rights seminar, Zunar joined a select group of global editorial cartoonists for a formal reception hosted inside the historic Paris City Hall. Organised by Cartooning for Peace, the gathering brought together satirists, municipal authorities, and media executives to defend creative liberties under threat. Facing nine active sedition charges and a 43-year potential prison sentence back home, Zunar used this prominent civic platform to present his banned cartoons, emphasizing that legal persecution and police raids cannot quieten visual art, and urging European policymakers to continue supporting frontline human rights defenders in Southeast Asia.
Lunch With Zunar
Hosted as an intimate diaspora dialogue within a private Parisian home, Zunar engaged directly with overseas Malaysian citizens and local human rights activists. Moving away from formal institutional settings, he used the casual residential environment to showcase his banned political drawings and cartoon compilations. Zunar educated the small gathering on the immediate ground realities of his active legal battles, detailed how the state police actively raided his printing offices, and discussed the strategic importance of using cross-continental digital pipelines to bypass government-controlled media and expose the 1MDB corruption scandal back home.
Cartooning Global Forum - Cartoonists: A Profession in Danger
Speaking on a high-level panel under the patronage of UNESCO and organized by Cartooning for Peace, Zunar shared his firsthand experience surviving systemic state intimidation, illegal detentions, and a multi-year travel ban. He urged international human rights bodies to establish robust, immediate legal protection networks for political cartoonists operating under authoritarian regimes. Highlighting the global rise in threats against visual satirists, he emphasized that safeguarding the right to draw is essential to protecting the broader democratic right to free speech and media independence.
Presentation of the Cartoonists' Declaration to UNESCO
Freshly liberated from his multi-year international travel ban following the historic May 2018 political transition in Malaysia, Zunar joined a specialized delegation from Cartooning for Peace at the global headquarters of UNESCO. The group formally presented a landmark international declaration asserting that "the freedom to draw is a fundamental right" and advocating for the designation of an International Day of Cartooning. Zunar used this prominent institutional platform to detail his narrow escape from a 43-year sedition prison sentence, encouraging threatened artists globally never to yield to authoritarian censorship because silence is exactly what legal actors want.
Cartooning Global Forum - Cartoonists: A Profession in Danger
Speaking at the inaugural multi-session global forum held under the patronage of UNESCO, Zunar joined international media networks to advocate for creators working under high-pressure regimes. Celebrating his recent release from a multi-year domestic travel ban, he highlighted his battle against 9 systemic sedition charges back home to demonstrate how autocracies use legal intimidation to stifle visual satire. Zunar strongly urged global human rights bodies to build immediate legal protection funds for targeted visual artists, declaring that protecting an independent cartoonist’s right to draw is fundamentally tied to safeguarding universal free speech.
New Malaysia, Same Struggles? Global Bersih Forum
Organized by Global Bersih, this specialized international forum brought Zunar together with overseas Malaysian citizens and human rights advocates in Europe. Following the historic 2018 change of government and the total dismissal of his 9 sedition charges, Zunar used this Paris platform to critically evaluate the state of free speech under the new administration. While celebrating his restored passport and freedom to travel, he warned the diaspora that institutional censorship and archaic laws remained a harsh reality for artists back home. He strongly urged continuous grassroots vigilance and international pressure, emphasizing that true democratic reform requires completely dismantling repressive state apparatuses rather than simply changing political leaders.
United Kingdom
To Fight Through Cartoon: London Print Exhibition & Forum
Presenting alongside Sarawak Report investigative journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown, Zunar used this prominent European launch to display his banned print collection. He exposed how authoritarian leadership under Najib Razak weaponised cyber-censorship, media control, and the colonial-era Sedition Act to choke political dissent. Both speakers detailed how critical visual satire and digital investigative blogging were breaking state media blockades, enabling the public to bypass information blackouts surrounding institutional corruption back home in Malaysia.
"Fighting Corruption Through Cartoons" Public Talk & Exhibition
Addressing a gathering of Malaysian students and the local diaspora, Zunar shared his experiences of facing censorship, book bans, and harassment under the Sedition Act by the Malaysian government. He emphasized that humor and political satire are legitimate weapons to challenge government corruption, human rights violations, and abuse of power. Zunar urged the audience to use their collective voices to support institutional reform back home, famously reminding them that "talent is not a gift, talent is a responsibility.
Cartoons and Censorship: A Public Forum with Zunar
Standing alongside political columnist Mariam Mokhtar, Zunar used this public platform to bring international attention to the severe political censorship gripping Malaysia. He presented his satirical drawings directly to the UK community, explicitly showing how the state uses physical police raids, bookstore intimidation, and the colonial-era Sedition Act to muzzle independent thinkers. Centered around his defining philosophy that "talent is not a gift, but a responsibility," Zunar urged listeners to reject neutrality in the face of institutional corruption and called on the diaspora to actively challenge government overreach from abroad.
To Fight Through Cartoon: An Audience with Zunar
Hosted by the Monsoons Book Club (MBC) directly within their own London office premises, Zunar addressed UK-based human rights advocates and the Malaysian diaspora. He utilized this intimate, private setting to detail his ongoing legal battles under the colonial-era Sedition Act and explain how satirical illustrations serve as an independent medium to track state corruption.
Fight Through Cartoons: Guest Lecture at the University of Oxford
Traveling amidst severe political retaliation from the Malaysian government, Zunar took the podium at the prestigious University of Oxford to outline the realities of state-sponsored intimidation. He weaponized his signature satirical drawings to visually dismantle the weaponization of the colonial-era Sedition Act, showing how authorities targeted his webmasters, printers, and assistants to isolate independent dissenters. Emphasizing his life-defining doctrine that "talent is not a gift, but a responsibility," Zunar urged the academic community and the overseas diaspora to see cartoons not just as art, but as a potent tool of political resistance against institutional corruption and the structural dismantling of free speech.
Fight Through Cartoons: Guest Lecture at the University of Cambridge
Zunar delivered an intellectual deep dive into how colonial-era legislation like the Sedition Act is systematically re-weaponized by modern administrations to treat lighthearted, creative parody as a severe threat to national security.
In Conversation with Martin Rowson: Fighting Malaysia's Sedition Threats
Zunar engaged in a cross-cultural professional dialogue with prominent British cartoonist Martin Rowson, comparing the legal frameworks protecting editorial cartoonists in Western democracies versus the severe criminal threats faced by creators in Southeast Asia.
My Fight Through Cartoons: In Conversation with Zunar
Zunar addressed international human rights advocates on the physical realities of facing a potential 43-year prison sentence for his drawings, showing how global letter-writing campaigns and public awareness protect threatened creators from arbitrary state mistreatment.
Cartoon-O-Phobia: Freedom Through Activism
As a core part of his "Cartoon-O-Phobia London Tour," Zunar held this specialized session to shed light on the intense judicial censorship, political harassment, and threats to free expression in Malaysia. He detailed his experience facing multiple charges under the Sedition Act, demonstrating how continuous creative activism remains essential to exposing systemic corruption.
Drawing Under Fire: Free Speech Rally & Protest
Standing at the historic home of global free speech, Zunar joined international human rights defenders and the Malaysian diaspora for an open-air public rally. Facing a record nine sedition charges and a 43-year prison threat back home, he stepped onto a soapbox to display his banned political cartoons. Zunar used this iconic venue to expose how the Malaysian judiciary was weaponized by the state to suppress dissent. He urged the global community to stand firm against political censorship, famously proclaiming that when a government closes traditional media channels, the street and public square become the ultimate platforms for truth.
Cartoon-O-Phobia London Tour: Featured Exhibition
Marking a historic milestone in his artistic career, Zunar became the first Malaysian political cartoonist to have his works displayed at The Cartoon Museum in London. Showcasing his most celebrated satirical pieces alongside the Gillray’s Ghost exhibition - honouring legendary British caricaturist James Gillray - Zunar used this premier international stage to amplify his global defense of free expression. Facing a record nine counts of sedition and a 43-year prison threat back home, he utilized the high-profile media launch to explain how raw visual satire cuts through state-sponsored intimidation, transforming static lines on paper into cross-border tools for political justice and human rights advocacy.
Malaysia Cartoonist Zunar Faces Jail for Sedition
Zunar utilized a global broadcast news segment to explain how state bodies confiscate independent cartoon books, close publishing warehouses, and target civilian printers to shut down alternative news channels before major elections.
Fight Through Cartoon: UK Diaspora Meet & Exhibition
Navigating a window of temporary freedom while out on bail for nine systemic sedition charges back home, Zunar used this prominent community space in central London to exhibit his banned political books. He connected with the UK-based Malaysian diaspora to expose how institutional intimidation and police raids are weaponized to dismantle free speech. He famously reinforced his core message that "talent is not a gift, but a responsibility," urging overseas citizens to stand as active, vocal pillars of the reform movement to challenge the 1MDB corruption scandal from abroad.
"To Fight Through Cartoons" Public Talk & Academic Forum
Speaking just weeks after the Malaysian Court of Appeal overturned the government ban on his books "1 Funny Malaysia" and "Perak Darul Kartun", Zunar addressed the diaspora student body regarding creative defiance against authoritarianism. He highlighted how the Barisan Nasional regime continuously weaponized the colonial-era Sedition Act 1948 to cripple independent media and silence public dissent. Zunar strongly encouraged the younger generation of Malaysians studying abroad to dismantle their self-censorship, remain politically vocal, and actively contribute to the ongoing fight for institutional transparency and freedom of expression from overseas.
IFEX Global Network Strategy & Freedom of Expression Forum (Virtual Address)
Bypassing an unconstitutional border lock enforced by Malaysian immigration authorities just months after his passport was officially deactivated, Zunar presented his speech via a live digital broadcast to the international free speech network IFEX. Blocked from traveling to the United Kingdom physically while facing nine active sedition charges, he collaborated with global freedom of expression advocates to condemn state-sponsored travel bans weaponized against journalists and artists. Zunar used the international platform to detail how authoritarian administrations employ legislative traps and physical border restrictions to isolate human rights defenders, urging IFEX member organizations to sustain aggressive cross-border advocacy to protect independent satirists under threat.
Gagged Cartoon Exhibition & Panel Talk
Organized by The Professional Cartoonists' Organisation (PCO) UK, in partnership with Index on Censorship and Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI). Barred from physically flying to London due to his travel ban, Zunar bypassed state restrictions by using a live virtual stream to address British editorial cartoonists, human rights groups, and journalists. Speaking alongside panelists Andy Davey and Jodie Ginsberg, he used the launch of the Gagged exhibition to highlight how the Malaysian government weaponized the Sedition Act to suppress his work. Zunar showcased how visual satire operates as an unyielding transnational tool to fight censorship and elite corruption, declaring that state-enforced boundaries cannot muzzle creative political dissent
Pakatan Harapan (PH) Victory Celebration & Diaspora Forum
Celebrating the monumental May 2018 General Election victory that ended six decades of single-party rule, Zunar joined hundreds of overseas Malaysians to mark the birth of "Malaysia Baru". Having just had his long-standing state travel ban lifted by the newly formed Pakatan Harapan government, he used this emotional diaspora forum to display his iconic anti-corruption cartoons that fueled the reform movement. Zunar expressed profound gratitude to the overseas community for their relentless global advocacy, while reminding them that civil society must remain independent, vigilant, and ready to hold any government accountable.
Malaysia: A New Era for Free Speech?
Following Malaysia’s historic May 2018 general election, political cartoonist Zunar participated in an open public forum evaluating the future of media freedom, artistic expression, and human rights under the newly elected government, specifically advocating for the complete abolition of the colonial-era Sedition Act and other restrictive censorship laws.
Laughter as a Political Tool - Zunar in Malaysia
Following the historic 2018 election shift in Malaysia, Zunar spoke to British political scientists to evaluate how grassroots humor and independent digital art platforms successfully weakened the previous ruling party's media monopoly.
The Power of Satire and the 1MDB Corruption Scandal
Zunar briefed international listeners on the complex visual strategies he used to simplify the multi-billion dollar 1MDB scandal, proving that cartoons can break through dense financial jargon to inform the general public.
The Offensive Internet: Digital Free Expression Forum
Returning to the Free Word Centre just before global COVID-19 travel lockdowns took effect, Zunar joined human rights defenders to address the shifting landscape of online censorship. He warned the international community that while structural democratic transitions had removed his immediate threat of a 43-year prison sentence, authoritarian regimes were rapidly adapting. He detailed how governments increasingly weaponised cyber-security legislation, algorithmic censorship, and internet blackouts to muzzle online cartoonists, artists, and investigative journalists. Zunar urged digital free speech advocates to build resilient cross-border platforms capable of defending independent online media against state-sponsored digital intimidation.
MLRC London Conference: International Developments in Media Law
Zunar sat as a featured international panelist for the session "Defending Satire in an Increasingly Humorless World," detailing how autocratic regimes weaponize legal and digital censorship frameworks against creative cartoonists, while calling for robust international defense strategies to preserve public dissent.
Closing Dialogue on Arts & Culture (Projek Amanat Negara XX)
Zunar was featured alongside Malaysian filmmaker Nadira Ilana for a formal presentation, film screening, and panel discussion addressing the progression of artistic freedom and cultural discourse in Malaysia.
Australia
The Chaser Lecture Gala Dinner
Zunar performed an intensive live political drawing session during his keynote address at a high-profile human rights fundraising dinner. The completed, original cartoon was immediately put up for auction to the room, successfully selling for 4,000 AUD to support freedom of expression initiatives and defense funds for political dissidents.
Carnival of the Bold – Art for Social Change Festival
Zunar served as a premier guest storyteller and panelist at this annual festival alongside prominent international human rights artists. Addressing Australian creative professionals, social advocates, and media monitors, he argued that creative talent should never be neutral, demonstrating how visual parody can bypass local censorship barriers to spark sweeping social movements and directly dismantle institutional corruption.
Zunar's Australian Tour in Sydney
Hosted by the diaspora activist group Bersih Sydney, Zunar held an interactive community public presentation and solidarity rally to connect with the local Malaysian expat community. He shared firsthand details of his nine sedition charges back home and demonstrated how political satire acts as an essential catalyst for grassroots democratic reform.
To Fight Through Cartoon
Amid facing nine active sedition charges and a potential 43-year prison sentence back home, political cartoonist Zunar shared his perilous journey of using satire to combat government corruption and advocate for absolute freedom of expression in Malaysia.
To Fight Through Cartoon
Political cartoonist Zunar leveraged his presentation to call directly on international audiences and foreign government representatives to take an active stance on human rights, arguing that global solidarity and public laughter are the most potent tools for exposing institutional corruption and defying domestic speech bans.
Drawing Dissent: The Cartoonist Facing 43 Years in Prison
Zunar used his nationwide Australian radio appearance to outline his ongoing domestic legal defense, emphasizing to international legal observers that using satire to critique public officials should never be criminalized as a threat to national security.
To Fight Through Cartoon
Political cartoonist Zunar addressed members of the Malaysian diaspora and human rights advocates in Victoria, showcasing his banned caricatures and emphasizing that artistic creation is a critical democratic responsibility when confronting institutional corruption and statutory speech restrictions.
Sembang-sembang and Doodle with Zunar
Zunar hosted an interactive community session combining casual dialogue and live cartooning, demonstrating how doodles and political caricatures serve as accessible tools to critique governance and spark discussion on social justice.
To Fight Through Cartoon
Political cartoonist Zunar connected with the Queensland human rights community and Malaysian diaspora to illustrate how humor strips authoritarian regimes of their power, encouraging attendees to use creative digital platforms to bypass state-controlled mainstream media networks.
Fight Through Cartoon: Meeting with the Malaysian Diaspora
Zunar met directly with members of the Western Australian Malaysian diaspora and civil rights advocates in a public civic space, hosting an intimate live caricature presentation and a Q&A panel breaking down the global coordination needed to challenge authoritarian policy back home.
To Fight Through Cartoon
In the final stop of his Australian lecture circuit, political cartoonist Zunar emphasized that "laughter is the best protest" against institutional corruption, delivering his final address just days before the Malaysian government officially placed him on an international travel ban.
Germany
DW Global Media Forum: Media and Foreign Policy in the Digital Age
Navigating severe political persecution, Malaysian cartoonist Zunar attended the prominent international media conference organized by Deutsche Welle (DW). While out on bail and facing a record nine colonial-era sedition charges, he took to the international stage to emphasize the critical role of political caricature in digital activism. Zunar shared his steadfast defiance against state intimidation, highlighting how authoritarians utilize legislative blocks to stifle independent voices. He connected with global media practitioners to advocate for international solidarity and the fundamental defense of cross-border free expression.
How Can I Be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand!
Amnesty International Germany in collaboration with the Friedrich Naumann Foundation and Reporters Without Borders
Key Message: Holding up handcuffs and wearing his symbolic purple prison uniform, Zunar addressed German lawmakers, diplomats, and human rights protectors while facing 43 years of prison back home. He praised Amnesty's global network for gathering over 250,000 solidarity petition signatures for his case. He strongly urged European governments to exert severe diplomatic pressure on Malaysia’s administration to halt its widespread abuse of colonial-era sedition laws and protect the rights of peaceful political dissidents.
How Can I Be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand!
Co-hosted by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, Zunar delivered an impassioned address while symbolically holding up handcuffs to the audience. He declared his unyielding refusal to stop drawing despite facing 43 years in prison under Malaysia's Sedition Act, emphasizing that cartoonists must never stay silent or neutral in the face of an oppressive.
Shifting Powers: The Role of Media in a Changing World Balance
Attending the forum as a free man following the historic 2018 Malaysian regime change, Zunar participated in critical discussions regarding systemic censorship and the evolving landscape of press freedom. He highlighted how political cartoonists and independent creators must navigate "shifting global powers" to keep holding institutions accountable, celebrating his ability to finally travel and speak internationally without the threat of a 43-year prison sentence looming over him.
Humor, Satire and Politics Session
Zunar traveled to Germany as an international speaker to address a global gathering of thinkers, activists, and technologists. During his targeted presentation, he focused on the vital intersection of humor and political satire in defending human rights. He analyzed how traditional creative dissent must evolve to counter modern censorship, digital manipulation, and the rising challenges to democracy in the age of artificial intelligence.
Sweden
Sketch Freedom: 2nd International Cartoon Expo
Curated by exiled Iranian cartoonist Kianoush Ramezani, the premier exhibition opened to showcase the works of 28 globally targeted political cartoonists. Zunar was prominently featured as a focal artist for his bravery in utilizing satire to challenge systemic state corruption in Malaysia, emphasizing to the Scandinavian audience the dangerous, high-stakes battle for freedom of expression.
Shaping Civic Space: Countering Global Restrictions on Freedom of Expression
Standing before an international delegation of human rights experts and policymakers, Zunar served as a primary case study on state overreach. Just weeks after being hit with 9 concurrent sedition charges in Malaysia, he used his cartoons to visually demonstrate how authoritarian governments weaponize security laws to dismantle democratic civil spaces, urging the international community to take immediate, unified action against the global crackdown on independent creators.
How Can I Be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand!
Zunar delivered a speech to Scandinavian writers and human rights networks on International Human Rights Day, declaring his absolute refusal to stay neutral during times of institutional injustice, and explaining that a cartoonist's pen must take a firm political stance.
Freedom of Speech in Comics Today
Malaysian political cartoonist Zunar engaged in a panel discussion moderated by Swedish comics expert Fredrik Strömberg, exposing the severe legal censorship and sedition charges he faced at home while defending the role of satirical drawing as an uncompromised weapon for political dissent and human rights.
Drawing Under Fire: Live Satire and Freedom of Expression
Speaking on the International Human Rights Day, Zunar conducted an intense live drawing session to visualize the silencing of political opposition in Malaysia. Facing imminent imprisonment back home, his real-time caricature work exposed how art bypasses systemic state censorship. His sketches were integrated into human rights education and street campaigns, empowering local European advocates, educators, and students to actively support global free speech protections.
Write for Rights Campaign: Victory Through Solidarity
Organized by Amnesty International Sweden. Connecting digitally with Amnesty Sweden activists grouped in Stockholm and Malmö, Zunar celebrated the absolute dropping of his sedition charges earlier that year. He expressed immense gratitude to the Swedish networks for their years of relentless global letter-writing and advocacy. He underlined that grassroot solidarity is a powerful shield against state-sponsored censorship, calling on the activists to sustain intense international pressure for other imprisoned or banned human rights creators worldwide.
Netherlands
To Fight Through Cartoon: Media Freedom and Satire
Zunar presented to European media monitors, emphasizing that editorial satire must remain completely independent of political party lines to retain its moral authority and continue serving as an effective check on executive power.
The Pen is Mightier Than the Sword: A Victory for Freedom of Expression
Meeting with senior human rights directors and local advocates, Zunar delivered a profound message of gratitude to the Dutch public. He highlighted the Netherlands as a critical epicenter for his global solidarity movement, demonstrating how international pressure directly forced the Malaysian government to cave and withdraw all 9 sedition charges against him.
Cartoon Battle: Drawing for Freedom of Expression
Co-organized with Amnesty International, Zunar engaged design and media students in a live, interactive "Cartoon Battle." He demonstrated how to weaponize digital art against political injustice, using his own survival under Malaysia's Sedition Act to inspire the next generation of visual artists to proactively fight state censorship.
Write for Rights Guest Lecture & Exhibition
Organised in the lead-up to Amnesty International's global "Write for Rights" campaign, Zunar shared his real-life testimony of facing legal harassment and a potential 43-year prison sentence for his tweets and cartoons. His session successfully motivated the students to actively write letters advocating for the release and protection of persecuted political prisoners and human rights defenders around the world.
Battle of the Cartoons: International Live Satire Face-Off
Following the complete lifting of his state travel ban, Zunar engaged in a high-stakes, fast-paced live drawing competition against prominent Dutch editorial cartoonist Tjeerd Royaards. Under strict five-minute drafting rounds judged dynamically by an audience of European students, Zunar weaponized his raw, high-speed caricature style to win the face-off. He utilized the interactive platform to prove that cross-border political satire breaks through all language barriers, illustrating how visual humor serves as a universal weapon to expose human rights violations and combat state-sponsored corruption globally.
Turkey
The 10th Gathering in İstanbul for Freedom of Expression
Amid a massive crackdown on media outlets by Turkish authorities, Zunar joined an international forum of human rights advocates and artists. He shared his specific timeline of battling the Sedition Act in Malaysia, concluding with a live, collaborative demonstration alongside Turkish cartoonist Sadık Pala. His appearance reinforced the global need for mutual solidarity among threatened political artists, proving that creative satire can unite civil movements across completely different regimes.
Ethiopia
Cartooning for Peace and Democracy - Artistic Freedom and Freedom of Expression at the Tip of the Pen
Invited as part of a global cohort of 26 visual creators assembled by Cartooning for Peace for UNESCO’s global conference, Zunar took the stage to highlight the unique vulnerabilities facing political satirists under authoritarian systems. Celebrating his freedom to speak internationally following the historic dropping of his 9 sedition charges, he warned that institutional censorship rarely disappears overnight with a change of government. Zunar strongly rallied for the formal adoption of the "Addis Ababa Declaration" recognizing cartooning as a fundamental human right, reminding the audience that a truly independent pen must always challenge power rather than praise!
Philippines
"The Challenge of Political Cartooning in Malaysia: A Personal Perspective"
Zunar visited the campus alongside prominent cartoon scholar Prof. John E. Lent to collaborate on documenting the history and cultural significance of political cartooning across Southeast Asia.
"Changing Media, Changing Societies: Media and the Millennium Development Goals"
To achieve development goals, media needs to be a source of independent and alternative information, far from state control.
"Workshop on Comic Art"
Zunar showcases a live drawing and shares with participants how to make a cartoon with messages.
Satire, Censorship, and Civic Action in Southeast Asia
Zunar served as a featured global changemaker and panelist at the 13th annual summit hosted by Asia Society Philippines. Speaking directly to an elite cohort of cross-border innovators, policymakers, and civic leaders from over 30 countries, he analyzed the compounding threats to free expression across the ASEAN region. He utilized his presentation to demonstrate how sharp caricature and visual parody strip away state propaganda, urging the next generation of regional leaders to proactively protect independent media spaces and weaponize creative content to combat institutional corruption.
Indonesia
"Freedom of Expression and Overcoming State Censorship"
Zunar addressed regional journalists on methods to circumvent aggressive state press crackdowns, emphasizing that media bodies must work together across Southeast Asia.
Drawing Through the Crackdown: Human Rights in Malaysia
Barred from traveling internationally due to his ongoing sedition trials, Zunar bypassed state restrictions by connecting virtually with Indonesian media and civil society leaders. He utilized the digital link to showcase how his cartoons serve as an uncompromising critique of state corruption, urging regional human rights defenders to form a unified digital front to combat the systemic suppression of freedom of expression across Southeast Asia.
A Political Cartoonist's Journey and the Fight for Freedom
Zunar met with Indonesian constitutional lawyers and policy monitors to build closer regional alliances, showcasing how cartooning serves as an alternative form of civic monitoring to track legislative abuse and state missteps.
"Beda Ragam, Saling Sapa" Media & Tolerance Festival
Organized by Perhimpunan Pengembangan Media Nusantara and the Ford Foundation. Zunar traveled to the Thamrin business district as a speaker at the regional event "Festival Keberagaman, Beda Ragam Saling Sapa". He spoke on the same panel as Alissa Wahid, the daughter of former Indonesian President Gus Dur. Zunar explains that he uses his art to prevent people from discriminating against one another based on race, skin colour, and religion.
Cartoonist: Enemy of the State
Speaking at a live digital forum alongside prominent Indonesian cartoonist Guz Wid, Zunar addressed the collective regional crackdown on free speech. The broadcast famously made international headlines when hackers launched a coordinated two-hour cyberattack on the event's hosting servers while the stream was live, underscoring the high-stakes digital warfare faced by political satirists in Southeast Asia.
Thailand
Regional Consultations on Freedom of Expression in Southeast Asia
Traveling physically to Thailand shortly after his high-profile police lockup in Malaysia, Zunar met face-to-face with Mr. Frank La Rue, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression. He presented the Special Rapporteur with first-hand physical evidence of confiscated cartoons, directly demonstrating how his home country was weaponizing colonial-era security legislation to suppress graphic satire. This direct interaction served as a landmark case study for the UN's subsequent official investigations into regional state censorship.
Regional Forum on Freedom of Expression & Media Freedom in ASEAN
Amid severe regional state efforts to suppress independent voices, Zunar met with Southeast Asian human rights defenders and journalists to address the escalating bans on his cartoon volumes back home. He held live sketching sessions to demonstrate how visual satire cuts through state propaganda, urging regional civil groups to form a unified network to protect persecuted creators who utilize alternative art forms to expose corruption and political malpractice.
Cartooning Against Oppression - Public Forum and Presentation
Speaking at a regional freedom of expression forum hosted by the Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA), Zunar criticized the Malaysian government's ongoing use of the Sedition Act to silence independent creative voices and suppress dissent. Through an interactive presentation of his banned cartoons, he highlighted the escalating regional threats to media independence and human rights. He strongly emphasized the moral duty of creators under authoritarianism, stating his defining conviction: "How can I be neutral? Even my pen has a stand!"
Human Rights in ASEAN: The Cartoonists' Perspective / #SafeInCustody Regional Launch
Speaking physically at a regional human rights roundtable co-sponsored by the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) alongside regional partners like FORUM-ASIA, Zunar addressed the escalating crackdowns on creative and digital expression across ASEAN member states. He presented his lived experiences dealing with political detentions, police harassment, and travel restrictions in Malaysia to spotlight the necessity of regional solidarity. During his speech, he reiterated his core creative ideology that cartoonists must actively challenge political tyranny, asserting: "How can I be neutral? Even my pen has a stand!"
The Nation Talk: The Pen, The Stand, and The Shifting Space for Free Speech
Capitalizing on his trip to Thailand for the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) report launch, Zunar sat down for an exclusive broadcast with The Nation. He explicitly recounted how he used satirical humor to dismantle state-sponsored fear under Malaysia’s previous regime. In the live video session, he detailed his signature "my pen has a stand" philosophy, warning the regional Southeast Asian audience that independent digital spaces remain fragile even after hard-won democratic transitions.
Dictating the Internet: Curtailing Free Expression, Opinion and Information Online in Southeast Asia
Participating in an expert panel discussion to help launch a vital report by the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ), Zunar visually demonstrated the severe human cost of legal intimidation. He drew a live cartoon on stage depicting a government figure placing handcuffs around the two 'O's in the word Google, using his personal victory over 43 potential years of jail under the Sedition Act to highlight how Southeast Asian regimes continue to weaponize cyber-laws to suppress public accountability and dissent.
Cambodia
"Shaking Up Authoritarianism: The Role of Satire"
Zunar participated in an expert regional dialogue focusing on how lighthearted satire, caricatures, and parody function as unexpected structural threats to entrenched political regimes by shifting public fear into collective laughter.
Singapore
"Fight Through Cartoon Showcase & Regional Perspectives"
Zunar conveyed through his documentary screening that alternative visual mediums must step up to bypass mainstream media blackouts.
Sketch by Sketch with Zunar - A Visual Satire of Malaysian Administrations Over Time
Zunar systematically broke down how political caricature acts as an enduring public archive, mapping out how different Malaysian political administrations have relied on legal restrictions over consecutive decades.
Myanmar
"ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (APF) / Southeast Asian Peoples’ Festival 2015"
Facing prosecution back home, Zunar led workshops in Myanmar on the power of visual satire, demonstrating how editorial cartoons can bypass strict state media control to spark public discourse.
South Korea
IJAsia18 Keynote Address: Drawing Corruption
Organized by Newstapa and the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) as part of the 3rd Asian Investigative Journalism Conference. Zunar demonstrated how editorial cartoons serve as a vital visual companion to long-form investigative reports, summarizing complex cross-border financial crimes into single, impactful images.
India
Reclaiming Democratic Spaces: Political Satire and Freedom of Expression in Asia
Organized by the International Republican Institute (IRI). Speaking at a regional democracy symposium supported by the International Republican Institute (IRI) networks, Zunar highlighted how governments across Asia manipulate colonial-era laws to silence critical speech. He detailed his own legal struggles in Malaysia to emphasize that cartoonists bear a fundamental democratic responsibility to act as a check on executive power. Addressing an audience of international delegates, journalists, and human rights defenders, he reinforced his non-negotiable stance on fighting institutional oppression: "How can I be neutral? Even my pen has a stand."
Taiwan
University Speech Forum & Private Screening: "Anwar: The Untold Story"
Serving as the Executive Producer for the political biopic Anwar: The Untold Story, Zunar hosted a university forum to share the high-stakes production journey of filming the movie in secret. He detailed the struggles of documenting Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s 1990s anti-corruption battle, highlighting the immense challenges independent creators face when preserving suppressed political history through cinema.
Malaysia
- Kuala Lumpur
13th Biennial Symposium on Literatures and Cultures of the Asia-Pacific Region
Zunar detailed the deep intersection between graphic art, constitutional liberties, and systemic censorship laws, arguing that visual comedy is a peaceful civic instrument to hold power accountable.
Book Launch: Even My Pen Has a Stand
Defying prison detention and intensive surveillance, Zunar launched his new book and declared that state-level intimidation, office raids, and book bans would never stop his work.
Peranan Kartun Politik dalam Masyarakat (The Role of Political Cartoons in Society)
Zunar introduced academic audiences to the core sociology behind satire, detailing how political cartoons function as a mirror to society and a peaceful, graphic antidote to systemic political apathy.
Forum on Independent Journalism and Press Freedom
Zunar served as a guest panelist alongside Steven Gan (Editor of Malaysiakini), Dr. Mustapha K. Anuar (Lecturer at USM), and Masjaliza Hamzah (Executive Director of the Centre for Independent Journalism - CIJ) to discuss media independence and freedom of speech.
ASEAN Youth Forum (AYF) & ASEAN Peoples’ Forum (APF) Artivism Session
Zunar spoke extensively on using "artivism" - the blending of creative art and social activism - as an accessible, borderless tool for the region's youth to bypass traditional state censorship safely.
Designed to Offend: Are Pictures More Dangerous than Words?
Zunar explored the sociopolitical impact of visual arts, discussing whether satirical political cartoons could pose a genuine threat to the existing power dynamics and political establishment.
"Ying Feng Er Li" Multi-Ethnic Media Art Exhibition
Zunar emphasized that political cartooning must transcend ethnic boundaries to build a unified civic front, declaring that creative resistance is vital to preserve the public's right to question authority.
WFUNA Youth Seminar 2016: Kuala Lumpur
Organized by UNA-Malaysia and the WFUNA Youth Network. Zunar joined local and international experts at the 5th World Federation of United Nations Associations (WFUNA) Youth Seminar to guide global youth leaders on UN Sustainable Development Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions). He used his experiences as a political cartoonist to educate participants on human rights, civic space, and how creative tools can be leveraged to advocate for institutional transparency and public accountability.
Tea with Zunar Fan Event & Public Forum
Zunar hosted an interactive public platform to explain how heavy-handed police tactics, book bans, and merchandise seizures function as tools of state intimidation designed to silence vocal critics. He was arrested at that event.
Inktober Malaysia Mega Showcase & Creator Studio
Serving as the grand prelude to what later became the annual KL Toon festival, Zunar collaborated with the Malaysian Comic Artists Association (Pekomik) to anchor a month-long independent visual arts gallery. Amid intense political surveillance back home, he utilized the public mall space to display his ink sketches alongside 400 selected local creators. Zunar ran live caricature demonstrations to teach the community how basic ink-and-pen techniques can be weaponized into accessible tools of free expression, bypassing traditional censorship structures.
The Role of Satire in Academic Freedom and Social Change
Amid a heightened climate of academic surveillance and political pressure on campuses, Zunar traveled to the Nottingham University Malaysia Campus to engage directly with students and faculty. He utilized this platform to talk about how independent visual arts break institutional boundaries and challenge state censorship. Zunar argued that academic environments must actively defend free thought, detailing his ongoing battles against the Sedition Act to inspire the student body to use creative media as an analytical tool to expose structural flaws and critique those in positions of power.
Human Rights and Freedom of Expression
Organized by the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany. Speaking under the shadow of a strict international travel ban and multiple pending sedition charges, Zunar shared his experiences of state harassment with European diplomats and human rights defenders. He argued that political cartooning is a vital barometer for democracy and urged international embassies to maintain diplomatic pressure on the Malaysian government to respect free speech, reform its restrictive media laws, and halt the intimidation of local civil society activists.
Show and Tell
Organized by CLSA. Following the landmark withdrawal of his nine sedition charges, Zunar utilized his "Show and Tell" platform to exhibit the controversial political cartoons that had previously been banned by the state. He detailed his journey of fighting government corruption through art, emphasizing that the recent change in Malaysia's political landscape must be used to aggressively push for institutional reforms and the absolute repeal of the country's draconian Sedition Act.
Freedom of Speech & Expression
Zunar served as an expert panelist at the opening day of the biennial International Malaysia Law Conference (IMLC) 2018 alongside senior Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (SUHAKAM) representatives and global constitutional experts.
Malaysiaku: A Celebration of Malaysia Day
Celebrating the historic arrival of the "Malaysia Baru" era following the monumental May 2018 General Election, Zunar headlined the street-wide Malaysiaku Celebrations community festival organized along the iconic Bangkung Row in Bangsar. No longer restricted by state travel bans or facing a 43-year sedition jail threat, he used this massive open-air public forum to exhibit his raw anti-corruption cartoons and run public interaction sessions alongside local performance artists, authors, and civil rights advocates. Zunar highlighted to the urban community that visual art remains a permanent, grassroots historical archive of a nation's struggle for institutional transparency and democratic liberation.
Drink 'N Draw Bersama Zunar @ KL Toon
Organized by the Malaysian Comic Artists Association (Pekomik). Engaging directly with local comic enthusiasts, indie artists, and pop-culture fans, Zunar headlined an interactive live drawing session organized by the Malaysian Comic Artists Association (Pekomik). Stepping away from heavy street political activism, he utilized this urban mall setting to share his specialized caricature drawing techniques, drafting workflows, and creative philosophies. Zunar used the public platform to inspire emerging digital illustrators and casual sketchers, demonstrating how accessible visual storytelling can be nurtured as a powerful, expressive tool within contemporary Malaysian pop-culture.
"Rise Up! Human Rights" College Youth Workshop
Organized by the Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth (KLSCAH Youth). Zunar partnered with the Kuala Lumpur & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall Youth (KLSCAH Youth) to educate young adults on democratic spaces following Malaysia's historic 2018 political transition, using his personal journey to demonstrate how creative satire and political cartooning serve as vital tools for monitoring human rights and protecting public accountability.
Human Rights Camp Speaker & Panelist
Zunar joined young student leaders to explore the historical role of youth movements in driving political reform, emphasizing that continuous public monitoring is essential to protect freshly won democratic freedoms.
Zunar Drawing Workshop and Sharing Session
Zunar highlighted technical approaches to political caricature while discussing the mounting financial and judicial pressures facing independent content creators under restrictive printing and sedition laws.
Public Forum, "Did GE15 Change Malaysia for Good?"
Organized by Persatuan Alumni Universiti Malaya (PAUM). Zunar utilized his featured editorial artwork within the newly launched ISEAS academic study to visually anchor a panel debate on the 2022 General Election, highlighting how political cartooning continues to serve as an indispensable, real-time barometer for monitoring the stability of democratic reforms and shifting power dynamics in Malaysia.
IDEAS 4th Annual Liberalism Conference
Organized by the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS). Zunar served as a primary panelist alongside cultural commentators and global policy analysts to debate the boundaries of artistic freedom under transitionary political regimes. He utilized his presentation to explicitly outline the systemic impact of Malaysia's censorship apparatus, arguing that an independent artist must explicitly take a firm political stance rather than remaining neutral. He explained to the policy-focused assembly how strategic humor, caricature, and visual satire function as critical democratic checks against institutional overreach and legislative corruption.
Censorship & The Sedition Act: The Reality For Malaysian Artists
Speaking to creative students and young creators at an arts forum co-supported by Taylor’s University (via the TUTAS performing arts programme at klpac), Zunar mapped out the harsh ground realities of institutional censorship in Malaysia. He cautioned the student body against the dangerous habit of artistic self-censorship when addressing sensitive socio-political issues. Sharing his personal philosophy that "talent is not a gift, but a responsibility," Zunar urged the next generation of Malaysian performers and visual artists to never allow archaic laws or political fear to muzzle their analytical voices or stifle their human expression.
Drawing From Home: Digital Cartoon Workshop During Lockdown
Responding to strict nationwide pandemic travel blocks and Movement Control Order (MCO) lockdowns, Zunar launched an independent virtual drawing workshop series tailored specifically for children and families stuck at home. Stepping completely away from partisan politics, heavy anti-corruption satire, and street activism, he utilized his personal digital platform to teach basic caricature proportions, facial layout tricks, and simple sketching techniques. He transformed his digital studio into a positive space for creative education, demonstrating how straightforward visual storytelling and lighthearted cartooning serve as powerful, accessible tools for home entertainment, stress relief, and family bonding during a global health crisis.
Communicating National Politics Through Cartoons
This academic program was filmed and broadcast digitally on the university's channels to discuss the impact of visual literacy on modern Malaysian political journalism.
Media Studies Academic Seminar: The Semiotics of Political Satire
Returning to academia following a period of heightened pandemic lockdowns, Zunar addressed media researchers, lecturers, and post-graduate journalism students at Universiti Malaya. Moving entirely away from standard political street rallies, he structuralized his session around the formalistic and semiotic analysis of his work. He mapped out how specific drawing elements—such as visual exaggeration, scale distortion, and targeted ironies—are utilized to legally and safely bypass state-censorship laws while communicating complex, multi-billion dollar anti-corruption data directly to the public conscience.
MYACT Cartoon Exhibition: "Re-imagining A Torture-Free Nation"
Organized by Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) in collaboration with the Association for the Prevention of Torture (APT) and CrCF Thailand. Collaborating alongside Thai artist Tawan Wattuya, Zunar used his satirical artwork to headline an anti-torture visual exhibition, participating in public forums to advocate for human rights awareness and pressure Malaysia towards ratifying the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT).
Journey as a Cartoonist
Collaborating with the Museum of Asian Art and the Universiti Malaya Library during the Visionary Journeys Exhibition, Zunar targeted university students, academic researchers, and art historians. He delivered an educational talk and live cartooning demonstration focusing on the evolution of political caricature in Malaysia. He utilized the academic platform to argue that graphic art should not merely be decorative, but should serve as an intellectual, historical record that archives civil rights movements and captures structural national shifts for future generations.
Pivoting Content: From Books to Media, Manga & Cartoons
Zunar teamed up with UBSM to deliver an educational talk aimed at younger creators, law students, and media professionals. He mapped out how he successfully shifted his censored back-catalog into alternative print, digital, and new media formats. The session focused on teaching the next generation how to maintain artistic conviction and navigate complex state-level legal and financial crackdowns without compromising their creative message.
"Bicara Santai" & Launch of Membangun Masyarakat MADANI Versi Kartun
Zunar featured prominently at the international book fair to launch and speak about his newest book, Membangun Masyarakat MADANI Versi Kartun. In stark contrast to his past events which faced heavy state crackdowns, his main stage launch was opened directly by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. During his live interviews and public forum sessions at the venue, Zunar emphasized that cartooning remains a critical civic tool to actively combat systemic corruption, strengthen governance, and simplify complex national socioeconomic policies so ordinary citizens can hold administrations accountable.
"Hati & Minda Sasterawan" Panel & "Sembang Buku Terbaru" Series
Organized by Perbadanan Perpustakaan Awam Selangor (PPAS). Zunar served as a recurring headlining panelist for multiple interactive public forums curated entirely by the PPAS library network during the international book fair cycle. Speaking alongside civil advocates and cultural commentators, Zunar used these library sessions to dissect his latest release, Membangun Masyarakat MADANI Versi Kartun. He focused his message on visual literacy, demonstrating to library patrons and readers how satirical drawings break down complex state economic reforms, reduce social friction, and empower the general public to directly analyze administrative governance.
Lepak Kartun - Dari Sosiobudaya ke Budaya Kecerdasan AI (Cartoon Hangout - From Socio-Culture to AI Culture)
Organized by the National Art Gallery. Zunar joined local cartoonists and academicians in a public discourse organized by the National Art Gallery to analyze how traditional Malaysian political and socio-cultural cartooning is evolving alongside the modern rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI) culture.
- Penang
Peranan Seni Dalam Masyarakat (The Role of Art in Society) Lecture
Zunar was successfully able to conduct his lecture and interact directly with the university students, emphasizing how creative expression and editorial cartooning serve as powerful instruments to critique social injustice, counter state propaganda, and shape public political consciousness.
An Evening with Zunar
This event was abruptly cancelled at the last minute following perceived pressure and directives from higher university administration ("the above"), blocking Zunar from speaking directly to the student body on campus.
Seni Sastera Rakyat dan Kreativiti Politik (People’s Literary Art and Political Creativity)
Zunar introduced academic audiences to alternative artistic frameworks. Notably, inviting academic staff faced internal administrative pressure and formal inquiries from university management for providing a public platform to a banned political artist.
Fight Thru Cartoon Screening & Discussion
Zunar headlined a segment at FreedomFilmFest Penang, arguing that creative professionals have a strict moral duty to abandon neutrality and use their mediums to expose state corruption and challenge oppressive legislation.
Independent Youth Journalism Bootcamp: "Drawing to Dissent"
Serving as a guest mentor for a grassroots civic-media bootcamp, Zunar trained alternative student journalists and regional youth activists on the safety protocols of political cartooning. Facilitating interactive drawing labs within the public park complex, he demonstrated how basic visual metaphors and brave satirical editorial work could pierce through federal print censorship and stimulate youth voter awareness.
The Malay Dilemma (Panel Session)
Returning to Malaysia immediately after receiving his 2015 CPJ International Press Freedom Award in New York, Zunar joined a high-profile panel alongside activist Marina Mahathir. He officially launched his banned book Sapuman: Man of Steal and shared how institutional suppression of expression paralyzes democratic reform.
Official Launch of the Zunar Dedicated Exhibition Zone
Inaugurating his exclusive museum pavilion, Zunar argued that comic museums must actively preserve contemporary political truth rather than just nostalgic escape. He marked the permanent institutional display of his banned cartoons as a monumental victory for civil rights.
Exclusive Artist Meet-and-Greet: "Twit Twit" Book Signing
Utilizing a multi-level heritage event space, Zunar held an intimate dialogue session inside a restored goldsmith vault. He shared the creation process behind his satirical compilation Twit Twit and explained how independent local cafes and private cultural hubs play a vital role in keeping free speech alive when mainstream public venues pull out due to political fear.
GTLF Book Launch & Artist Meet-and-Greet: "Wasabi"
Utilizing a multi-level heritage event space inside a restored goldsmith vault, the session was designed to highlight how independent local cafes and private cultural hubs play a vital role in keeping free speech alive when mainstream public venues pull out due to political fear.
Zunar’s Cartoon Exhibition
The exhibition showcased Zunar's signature political cartoons, which used satire and humor to critique the government administration, state corruption, and issues of the time.
George Town Literary Festival (GTLF): "The Power of the Pen" Cartoon Workshop
Serving as an interactive cartoon workshop session for festival attendees, Zunar utilized the historic heritage space to physically demonstrate how simple drawing lines, caricature sketching, and visual humor function as a powerful form of public literacy. Rather than hosting a passive panel discussion, he directly engaged participants in the drawing process to illustrate how graphic art empowers citizens to critique national political events and bypass systemic media censorship.
Aliran Public Forum on Freedom of Expression
Organized by Aliran. Zunar joined independent media professionals and legal experts to emphasize the critical role of political caricature in exposing institutional corruption, mapping out the systematic patterns authorities use to target alternative news platforms.
IMPACT 2018: Media and Communication Conference "The Art of Resistance"
Zunar served as a keynote panelist at USM's flagship communication conference, inspiring mass communication students to see political cartooning as an influential form of alternative media that holds democratic institutions accountable and guards public transparency.
Visual Arts Workshop "Conteng-conteng bersama Zunar"
Zunar led an immersive two-hour practical workshop for fine arts and design students, teaching the fundamental technical workflows of visual satire and showing how simple sketches can be transformed into potent vehicles for social commentary.
Zunar: Cartoon Exhibit and Talk
Zunar emphasized that despite the country's historic democratic transition earlier that year, he would continue creating satirical political cartoons to hold power accountable, declaring that alternative visual storytelling remains essential to monitor the new administration.
PechaKucha Night Penang Vol. 16: "Creativity for Change"
Standing alongside principal library architect Tan Bee Eu, Zunar delivered a rapid-fire presentation using the strict international 20-images-by-20-seconds format. He showcased a physical micro-exhibition of his controversial caricatures while speaking on how graphic arts disrupt institutional propaganda and spark civil courage.
Meet-the-Author: Fight Through Cartoons Book Launch
Zunar headlined an intimate community talk and book launch event to mark the release of his detailed personal memoir, Fight Through Cartoons: My Story of Harassment, Intimidation & Jail.
"DART with Zunar" Workshop
Organized by The One Academy Penang. In a specialized full-day masterclass targeting visual artists and creative students, Zunar shared strategic audience insights. He emphasized that great artwork needs strategic positioning, encouraging local creators to align their unique artistic voices with direct audience connection to make a lasting social and commercial impact.
Solo Art Exhibition
A major, highly publicized multi-week solo visual art exhibition that marked a monumental institutional homecoming for Zunar's artistic repertoire, launched officially by Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Open Society Foundations (OSF) Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO) Regional Retreat
Organized by Open Society Foundations (OSF) Asia Pacific Regional Office (APRO). Serving as a special international guest speaker for the OSF regional assembly, Zunar detailed how institutional censorship structures suppress creative dissent in Southeast Asia, urging global donor networks to provide urgent legal protection and structural resources for regional political artists facing state persecution.
"A Long and Windy Road" Special Creative Plenary
Stepping outside his standard political lecture format, Zunar delivered a career keynote detailing his financial and professional journey. He spoke to financial planners, academics, and students on the economic realities of running independent print media under heavy state legal pressure, outlining how alternative distribution networks sustain financial survival during prolonged crackdowns.
Hari Muzium Antarabangsa (International Museum Day) Celebration: "Speak Up"
As part of Penang's national-level International Museum Day festivities, Zunar co-headlined the interactive "Speak Up" dialogue series alongside fellow artist Rizman. Set against the backdrop of the historic fort, he engaged the public on the role of bold caricature in cultural heritage preservation, demonstrating how freedom of artistic expression acts as a living tool for social discourse and historical documentation.
Healing Through Ink: Art & Cartoon Therapy Session
Held during the 4th Penang International Hanwang Forum. Broadening his creative impact into mental wellness, Zunar conducted a specialized "Art Therapy" workshop during this prominent cultural forum. Stepping completely away from aggressive anti-corruption satire, he demonstrated how sketching, building basic caricatures, and utilizing visual humor can serve as a powerful tool for stress relief and emotional healing. Zunar also utilized this platform to present his 50-year comprehensive artistic biography, Melukis Dengan Hati, reinforcing that art is at its most impactful when it connects directly with the human heart.
Perkongsian & Pelancaran Buku: Membangun Masyarakat Madani Versi Kartun (The One Talk Series)
Organized by PPAPP (Penang Public Library Corporation). Zunar launched his latest cartoon book under "The One Talk Series" to demonstrate how humour, satire, and critical visual storytelling function as vital educational tools to raise civic awareness and stimulate open public dialogue in Malaysia.
- Selangor
FreedomFilmFest (FFF) 2014: "The Power of Satire" Special Forum
Headlining the interactive talk and pop-up cartoon showcase for the premier human rights documentary festival, Zunar spoke alongside local civil rights activists. He demonstrated how his banned artwork directly serves as visual journalism, highlighting that when conventional media channels are choked by censorship, bold and unfiltered cartooning becomes a critical mechanism for public truth-telling and political accountability.
Official Launch of "Malaysian English at its Wackiest" (The Manglish Series)
Stepping away from his solo political exhibitions to collaborate on a lighthearted cultural project, Zunar spoke at the launch of this satirical book capturing Malaysia's unique linguistic identity. Presenting his featured artwork from the collection, he shared how sharp, observational comic art acts as a universal mirror - allowing Malaysians of all backgrounds to laugh together at their shared everyday quirks, colloquialisms, and social landscapes.
Forum on Freedom of Expression: Drawing the Line
Zunar called upon the state bar to form dedicated legal rapid-response teams, arguing that defense attorneys must be prepared to actively shield independent artists and grassroots activists from malicious prosecutions under the Sedition Act.
The Role of Satire in Academic Freedom and Social Change
Amid a heightened climate of academic surveillance and political pressure on campuses, Zunar traveled to the Nottingham University Malaysia Campus to engage directly with students and faculty. He talked about how independent visual arts break institutional boundaries and challenge state censorship, arguing that academic environments must actively defend free thought and use creative media as an analytical tool to critique those in power.
Travel Ban Forum: Government Change the Only Way Forward
Amid severe travel restrictions imposed on him by the state, Zunar joined prominent political columnist Mariam Mokhtar, activist Hishamuddin Rais, and lawyer Surendra Ananth for a high-stakes public panel. He exposed how the regime systematically weaponised arbitrary travel blacklists to silence international whistleblowers and block overseas human rights advocacy, directly challenging the Malaysian electorate to pursue total structural change at the ballot box.
Girlz Story Retold Cartoon Workshop
Providing a rare space for raw personal expression, political cartoonist Zunar conducted a specialized workshop designed to empower young women to control their own narratives. The session focused on a group of girls sharing their deeply personal stories, which Zunar then helped them translate into visual art. By teaching them foundational sketching and cartooning techniques, he guided the participants to capture their lived experiences, challenges, and perspectives through drawings, showing them how to use sequential illustration as a powerful medium for personal truth and storytelling.
Anifest Malaysia 2018 Grand Launch & Dialogue
Taking place exactly two days after the historic May 10 democratic transition, Zunar served as the guest of honor to officially launch the festival. Stepping onto the stage in an emotionally charged public appearance, he used his speech to celebrate the sudden downfall of the regime that had spent a decade persecuting his work, explaining that the collective struggle of independent creators had finally broken state censorship and marked a new dawn for creative free speech.
Book Launch: Fight Through Cartoons
Organized by Marshall Cavendish International / Borders Malaysia. Marking a historic milestone as his first domestic biography launch completely free from police interruption or state raids, Zunar presented his written memoir detailing his decade-long legal battles. He urged the public to step out of their post-election comfort zones, emphasizing that holding talent is a social responsibility and that citizens must continue actively using political satire and criticism to hold the new government accountable to its promises.
39th Media Criticism Colloquium (Kolokium Kritikan Media ke-39: Media dan Negara)
Zunar addressed future mass communication and journalism graduates on the structural challenges of media censorship in Malaysia, challenging academic institutions and young media creators to maintain uncompromising critical integrity and social responsibility in the digital landscape.
IMPACT 2019: Media & Freedom Public Forum & "Seni Kartun Sebagai Agen Perubahan" Workshop
Across a multi-day campus series, Zunar shared his journey with communication students to illustrate how independent creative media can survive government scrutiny and drive transparency. He hosted a hands-on technical workshop demonstrating how foundational line sketching and sharp, satirical humor can effectively dissect complex government policies for the general public.
Fight Through Cartoons: Special Meet-the-Author Event & Book Launch
Following the historic collapse of the previous regime and the complete withdrawal of his 43-year sedition threat, Zunar teamed up with UBSM to launch his highly anticipated graphic memoir, Fight Through Cartoons: My Story of Harassment, Intimidation & Jail. He structurally mapped out his career's history of police raids, physical locker detentions, and intense state censorship, emphasizing how visual satire serves as a permanent, risk-defying historical record of a nation's fight for democratic liberation.
"Fight Through Cartoons: My Story of Harassment, Intimidation & Jail" Book Launch
Marking a major historical shift from his usual compilations of satirical art, Zunar launched his official biographical memoir to lay bare his decade-long frontline battle against state censorship. He shared the inner philosophy behind his creative resilience with readers, exposing how he used laughter, simple visual layout techniques, and unyielding humor to break through arbitrary travel bans, multi-million ringgit book seizures, and severe police detention.
I Am Malaysian: 5 Rangkap (Forum & Arts Exhibition)
Organized by the KDU Student & Alumni Centre in collaboration with Majlis Bandaraya Shah Alam (MBSA). Zunar partnered with the KDU Student Alumni Centre, Dr. Azmi Sharom (Deputy Chairman of the Election Commission), and singer-songwriter Amylea Azizan to spearhead a major civic awareness forum. The event targeted Gen Z youth, breaking down the abstract principles of the Rukun Negara into accessible visual and artistic allegories. Zunar ran an interactive on-site art exhibition alongside the panel, demonstrating how creative media and strategic illustration serve as democratic tools to promote national unity, civic accountability, and social harmony without losing artistic edge.
MSGA Summit 2019: Dawn of a New Malaysia (Parallel Panel Session)
Organized by the Malaysian Students’ Global Alliance (MSGA). Zunar was a featured guest speaker at this flagship national student conference. Addressing local and returning overseas Malaysian youth, he participated in a targeted parallel session assessing the country's socio-political environment one year after the historic election, emphasizing the critical, unceasing role of young intellectuals in remaining vigilant to safeguard hard-won political reforms.
Arts for Politics or Pleasure: Malaysian Censorship and Regulation
Organized by Taylor’s University School of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Zunar served as a high-profile guest speaker at this targeted academic forum. Addressing the harsh legal realities confronting creators, he cautioned students against falling into the trap of self-censorship out of fear of the Sedition Act or SOSMA, advising young artists to separate fear from creation and focus entirely on visual truth.
Cartoon Drawing Workshop with Zunar
Zunar led a hands-on technical workshop for multimedia students, demonstrating how to design striking visual characters that can carry deep socio-political meanings while remaining engaging to the public.
Satire and Civic Literacy: Meet-the-Author Sessions
Participating as a featured national creative voice at the Selangor International Book Fair (SIBF) 2023, Zunar engaged directly with local readers, student groups, and literacy advocates. Moving away from radical street protests, he utilized his interactive platform to showcase how editorial cartooning serves as an accessible bridge for civic education and promotes critical reading habits.
Launch of Stan Lee’s "A Retrospective Exhibition - Looking Back to Leap Forward"
Zunar officially launched and officiated the solo retrospective art exhibition of veteran Malaysian illustrator and comic artist Lee Cheow Hee (widely known as Stan Lee or KULit). The program celebrated Stan Lee’s pre-digital era advertising and cartoon archives spanning five decades, bridging a collaborative weekend event that brought together generational Malaysian comic creators.
Drawing for Change: Youth Cartoon Workshop
Transitioning his focus toward civic education and inspiring the next generation, Zunar conducted an interactive workshop for international students. He stepped away from partisan politics to teach younger minds the technical fundamentals of cartooning, emphasizing how simplified visual storytelling can be utilized as a highly accessible tool for social awareness, personal expression, and constructive civic dialogue.
Official Launch and Dedication of "Melukis Dengan Hati"
Zunar delivered an official launch speech alongside Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to mark the historic institutional acquisition of his life's work. He reflected on his 50-year creative timeline, noting the immense symbolic victory of having his books formally collected by a state library corporation after decades of facing police raids and political blacklisting by federal authorities, emphasizing that public libraries must act as safe keepers of alternative civic histories.
"Momentum" Art Exhibition & Meet-the-Author Sharing Session
Zunar participated in the "Momentum" exhibition lineup with a live cartoon drawing session titled "Celebrating the Malaysian Spirit", followed by a dedicated weekend talk session sharing insights into his colorful life journey alongside the sale and signing of his latest books, Melukis Dengan Hati and Karya-Karya Terbaik Zunar.
- Sarawak
"Political Satire, Freedom of Expression, and Civil Society in Malaysia"
This seminar allowed Zunar to speak directly to East Malaysian students and academic staff about civil liberties and alternative political media before traveling restrictions tightened.
Drawing and Cartoon Workshop with Zunar
Despite experiencing a temporary three-hour immigration delay upon arrival due to a legacy state entry restriction, Zunar successfully conducted his practical creative sessions. He taught fundamental visual satire and drawing techniques to local participants, using the platform to prove that artistic expression and cartooning remain resilient tools for community dialogue that cannot be easily sidelined by administrative barriers.
- Negeri Sembilan
"Freedom of Expression, Human Rights, and Media Freedom Forum"
Facing an active international travel ban, Zunar moved his advocacy focus inward to target private university campuses, speaking directly to young corporate and media students about defending local civil liberties.
- Perak
Bengkel Kartun Bersama Zunar (Cartoon Workshop with Zunar)
Zunar conducted a specialized hands-on workshop for young visual arts students, emphasizing that cartooning requires intellectual preparation and research rather than just raw technical skill, while motivating the next generation to use their creative talents to fearlessly express truth and social reality.
Sharpened Word Literary Panel: "Running Out of Ideas, Zunar?"
Zunar addressed the public on the post-reformasi political landscape, explaining his creative process and clarifying that his role as a political cartoonist remains fully active in holding any sitting administration accountable, regardless of changing regimes.
- Melaka
Visual Journalism & Political Satire: An Evening with Zunar
Organized by Multimedia University (MMU). Following the historic May 2018 political transition in Malaysia, this academic exhibition and dialogue marked a pivotal shift from underground resistance to open institutional engagement. Held within a major tertiary campus, the event highlighted how Malaysian universities - historically constrained by strict student activism laws - could finally serve as open laboratories for political cartooning, academic freedom, and democratic discourse in a post-reform era.