Statements – Page 2 – Zunar Cartoonist

Zunar’s press and non-press statements

Amnesty: Drop the charges against political cartoonist Zunar – Amnesty International Australia

Visit Here to participate in the campaign. Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, also known as “Zunar”, is facing nine simultaneous charges over tweets in February 2015 criticizing the judiciary. If Zunar is convicted of more than one charge, he is likely to face a long term custodial sentence. He has been charged under the Sedition Act, a colonial-era law that clamps down on freedom of expression under the guise of protecting national security and deterring racial or religious unrest. Zunar has already been detained under this law, most recently in November, and five of his cartoon books have been banned by the Malaysian Government on the grounds that their content is “detrimental to public order”. As a vocal critic of the government while at home and overseas, Zunar has also been banned from travelling as of October. This was something he was freely able to do, even after being charged. No lawful reason has been given.

This is unacceptable. Ask the Malaysian authorities to drop the charges against Zunar and to repeal the laws which restrict the right to freedom of expression.

Update 14/12/16: Zunar’s application to challenge the constitutionality of his sedition charges has been successful and the Sessions Court is due to hear his case on 24 January. Please keep calling for all charges against Zunar to be dropped!

Funny how a cartoonist can be a national threat

Curated from: Free Malaysia Today Title: Funny how a cartoonist can be a national threat Original article by: Nawar Firdaws | January 11, 2017 KUALA LUMPUR: His passion for art and comics has led him down many dangerous paths, but Zunar the cartoonist is not about to give up anytime soon. The cartoons he draws today are controversial and he is even considered a national threat by the government of the day. Speaking to FMT in his office in Pudu, Zunar said cartoons and other forms of art had always been an all-consuming passion with him. When he was a boy, he found himself willing even to commit a crime to get his hands on a magazine with political cartoons in it. When he came into adulthood, he did try for a more settled life. At one time, he even took on a government job. However, he soon realised that he could not stamp out his desire to draw, no matter how hard he tried. Zunar, whose real name is Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, did not come from a wealthy family. He was raised in a small village in Kedah where getting hold of a comic book meant long trips into town. Newspapers and magazines weren’t cheap, he says, especially for a boy whose interest in political cartoons meant having to buy international publications. “Once, I stole a Time magazine because of two pages of political cartoons in it. I couldn’t afford to buy it. “I also drew cartoons in school exercise books and on school walls. In fact, I was caned for that. “And at one point, I didn’t have ink and couldn’t afford to buy it. So I used iodine. You could get it for free from mobile clinics then.”

First publication

Zunar is 54 years old now and has been churning out cartoons for decades. His first was published in a children’s magazine when he was only 12, an impressive feat for someone without any formal education in art. In school, he was placed in the science stream. That decision was made for him by his late parents and he objected at first. But he now says that learning science subjects made him more knowledgeable and gave him more material for his cartoons. “I wanted to be a scientist then, actually,” said Zunar, laughing as he recalled his school days. “My late parents said I had no future being a cartoonist. but with science, I could be a doctor or a scientist. Of course back then every parent said that. “If I can meet the 12-year-old me, I would tell him to go ahead with the science stream. It has helped me a lot. I can put the Darwinian theory and physics theories in my cartoons. Art you can learn later.”

Although he has been prolific since his childhood, Zunar became a professional cartoonist only in 1985. Before that, he worked as a laboratory technician in a government hospital. While the job guaranteed him a stable and secure future, his heart wasn’t in it and his hands kept itching for pen and paper. So he juggled two jobs for a while, working in a lab coat during the day and drawing comics at night, contributing to Gila Gila, which used to be a popular comic magazine. Before long he came to the unpleasant realisation that art and scientific logic did not always complement each other. He found that the more he got in touch with his artistic side, the more he struggled with his mathematical abilities.

“I could no longer count properly and this was dangerous for the patients,” he said. “So I had to decide which way to go. I knew I couldn’t have both.” He chose to follow his passion and went all out with cartooning to eventually become the cartoonist the whole world is paying attention to. Zunar had his work banned for the first time when he was 17, when he served as editor and cartoonist for his school magazine. “It was banned because I criticised a teacher,” he said. A decade later, he began drawing political cartoons to express his objections to practises or policies he disagreed with. “I became interested in politics in the early 80s. I went to forums. I sent letters to editors. But then I thought that I should use cartoons to do all these. “That was how it started. If I wanted to say something, I used my cartoons to say it. “But I didn’t expect to be arrested. I thought, of course, some people wouldn’t be happy with my cartoons, but not to the point of arresting me.”

Change of style

Zunar had been featuring political figures in his cartoons for some time before the 2013 general election, but it was only after that election that he decided on a change of style that would provoke his readers to think about the effect of bad policies and bad governance. “I sat down and thought I hadn’t been doing enough to create awareness among the public. That’s why I changed my style.” Merely making fun of a politician might grab readers’ attention but would often leave them wondering what the cartoon had to do with them, he said. “To create more impact, you have to make the message resonate with them, such as showing them that they are the ones paying the price when leaders are corrupt. “So I try to understand what the people want, what makes them angry, what touches their heart. This will provoke them and make them react.” Despite making national and international headlines with cartoons that often call for total institutional reforms, Zunar does not consider himself an activist. He calls himself a “creativist” instead. He says he has taken it upon himself to work towards making Malaysia a better country for all citizens. To him, this means pushing Barisan Nasional out of power. “Some people say that I, as an artist, should be neutral. But I tell them ‘no’. We have to make our stand clear. Being neutral is just a form of escapism. Even my pen has a stand. How can I not? “If I’m standing at a bus stop, with a lady beside me and a mat rempit comes and snatches her handbag, can I sit still and be neutral? Of course not. I have to help the lady even though there are risks in doing so.” With his popularity with Malaysians at an all time high, and the international community cheering him on, some may assume that Zunar would someday take on the role of politician. He was offered the role once but turned it down, saying it was never part of his dream. “I don’t want to join politics. I’m not a politician. Let me draw cartoons as this is what I know. Many people can be politicians. So let politicians be politicians. “I know what I’m doing is not enough. But I’m still looking for the right formula to make cartoons more than enough to bring reforms.” One would think that such a committed fighter for decent politics would be quite a reader of books, but Zunar admits that he hates reading. If anyone wanted to take him out for a date, he said, it had better be to the movies rather than a bookshop. “When I was in school – in Standard Five, I think – I won a competition for directing a stage show. The prize was a novel called Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan. “I didn’t read the book, not even a single page, until the year 2000. I read it only because I had to attend a programme where I had to speak to the author. I read it so I would have something to say about it.” To those interested in catching a movie with Zunar, he is more of a romantic comedy fan than one who likes horror or action movies. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DX5pJ3RoFk Click Here for the original article

Disebalik tabir Zunar, wawancara oleh Malaysiakini

Zunar - Budak sains yang tak suka sains

Suatu hari pada 1974 - seorang budak lelaki kelihatan berlari-lari di sebuah kampung kecil di Pendang, Kedah. Di tangan budak itu senaskhah majalan kanak-kanak, Bambino, yang memang popular pada zaman itu. Tidak ada apa-apa yang membuat rasa gembiranya membuak-buak kecuali lakaran kartunnya disiarkan dalam majalah berkenaan. Dan dia - si Zunar itu - memperoleh naskhah berkenaan secara percuma sebagai imbuhan kartunnya disiarkan. Pada zaman itu biasanya penduduk Kampung Padang Durian perlu ke bandar untuk membeli majalah yang terhad jualannya. Perjalanan untuk sampai ke pekan Pendang biasanya mengambil masa sehingga empat jam. Namun, Bambino itu diperoleh Zunar tanpa perlu mengorbankan begitu banyak masa ke bandar. Lebih penting, ia adalah kartun pertama Zunar diterima untuk disiarkan sesebuah majalah. Zunar - atau nama sebenarnya Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque - memang terkenal sebagai pelukis kartun satira politik yang banyak menyentuh salah laku pemerintah, terutama berkaitan isu rasuah dan penyelewengan. Pilihannya itu menjadikan Zunar, 54, musuh di mata pemerintah. Dia tidak ingat dengan tepat pada usia berapakah dia mula memegang berus lukisan, namun kenangan berlari-lari di kampung itu menjadi detik paling tidak dapat dilupakannya sepanjang kerjaya sebagai pelukis kartun.

Persimpangan dilema

Baru-baru ini Zunar berkongsi kenangannya dengan Malaysiakini. Melalui pertemuan di studio sempitnya di Fraser Business Park di Pudu, Kuala Lumpur, Zunar hadir dengan bersahaja. Pada baju T putihnya tertera kata-kata "Membela Hak Kartunis". Dia berseluar panjang hitam dan berselipar. Kata Zunar, minat melukisnya tidak datang daripada mana-mana rangsangan sebaliknya bakat semula jadi. "Saya suka melukis, ia datang secara semula jadi dan tidak dapat dijelaskan. Saya masih ingat semasa kartun pertama saya diterbitkan, saya dapat satu majalah percuma dan di dalamnya tertera satu setem getah. "Saya tunjukkan majalah itu kepada seluruh orang kampung dan berkata kepada mereka: Kamu tengok, kamu perlu beli majalah tetapi majalah kamu ada setem getah tak? Saya ada! Kerana kartun saya diterbitkan," kata Zunar dengan senyuman lebar dan seperti biasa membuat matanya mengecil. Apabila masuk sekolah menengah, sama macam pelajar lain, Zunar perlu berdepan dengan sistem pendidikan kerajaan Malaysia yang lazim. Dia perlu memilih sama ada mengikuti aliran sains atau sastera. Ketika itu, ibu bapanya tidak mengalakkan dia memilih aliran sastera. Dalam keadaan begitu, dia diasak dengan pertanyaan yang sukar untuk dijawab: "Macam mana kamu nak hidup kalau menjadi kartunis?" Lantas Zunar mengikuti keinginan ibu bapanya dengan memilih aliran sains sehingga diterima memasuki Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Di situ, dia memilih kursus yang berkaitan dengan Sains juga - Sains dan Pendidikan. Sepanjang masa itu, Zunar membayangkan pada masa depannya dia akan menjadi saintis. Namun tanpa dijangka, dia tidak hadir pada peperiksaan akhir tahun pertama kursusnya. Alasannya - dia tidak suka kursus berkenaan. "Mungkin pada masa itu saya sudah sedar minat sebenar saya ialah melukis kartun," katanya.

Jadi tukang sapu

Zunar masih ingat tahun itu - 1980. Tanpa hadir peperiksaan dia kemudian membuat keputusan untuk berhenti daripada pengajian di UTM. Dia baru berusia 18 tahun ketika itu. Selepas tercicir dari universiti, Zunar mula membuat pelbagai kerja sambilan seperti menjadi buruh pembinaan. Antara tugasnya ialah membancuh simen dan membina dinding. Dia juga pernah bekerja sebagai tukang sapu di kilang syarikat minuman F&N. Bidang tugasnya di situ ialah membersih longkang, tandas dan pejabat. Kebetulan, studio Zunar sekarang ini adalah berdekatan kilang dan pejabat F&N itu. Selepas empat tahun tidak mempunyai pekerjaan tetap, nasib semakin memihak kepadanya. Namun tawaran kerja itu seolah-olah berjenaka kepadanya. Kata Zunar dia diberikan peluang mengisi kekosongan jawatan juruteknik makmal hospital. Keadaan itu agak lucu baginya kerana Zunar baru saja 'melarikan diri' daripada bidang sains. Namun Zunar menerima kerja itu dan pada ketika sama kartunnya sudah kerap disiarkan dalam majalah Gila-Gila. Dengan adanya kolum di situ Zunar perlu menghasilkan sekurang-kurangnya sepuluh kartun setiap bulan. "Siang hari saya buat kerja di makmal, waktu malam pula saya melukis kartun," katanya. Namun ia tidak berjalan selancar yang diharapkan. Jika pada waktu siang di makmal hospital, Zunar perlu berdepan dengan banyak nombor dan membuat kajian menggunakan mikroskop, malamnya pula dia berurusan dengan dunia kreatif. Lama-kelamaan, Zunar berkata, otaknya seperti tidak dapat berfungsi dengan normal. "Saya mula menghabiskan lebih banyak masa untuk melukis kartun tetapi fungsi aritmetik saya terjejas, saya tidak boleh kira nombor dengan betul. "Ini sangat membahayakan pesakit kerana kerja saya ialah membuat kajian, termasuklah menyediakan laporan ujian darah. Saya tidak boleh silap," kata Zunar. Di saat itu, Zunar sekali lagi perlu membuat pilihan untuk hidupnya. Akhirnya, Zunar meletak jawatan daripada tugas di hospital lalu menjadi kartunis sepenuh masa. Kartunnya terus dihantar kepada majalah Gila-Gila. Sekatan, kekangan buat Zunar terus rancak

Sekatan, kekangan buat Zunar terus rancak

Pada masa itu kartun yang dilukis Zunar bukanlah bersifat politik sebaliknya menyajikan humor biasa. Antara tajuk kartun yang masih diingatinya ialah "Ali, Siapa Namamu?". Tidak lama kemudian, Zunar cuba menambah 'perisa' dalam kartunnya. Untuk itu dia gigih mencari majalah yang boleh dijadikan rujukan walaupun hakikatnya tidak banyak bahan bacaan politik pada zaman itu. Untuk memenuhi keperluan berkenaan, Zunar mengaku dia pernah "mencuri" senaskhah majalah Time dari hospital. Ketika itu, kata Zunar, dia menghantar kawannya ke hospital dan ternampak majalah Time terbiar di atas meja pelawat, lalu teruja melihatnya kerana mengandungi kartun politik. "Saya curi majalah itu kerana saya memang memerlukannya sebagai rujukan. Saya tidak mampu membeli Time pada masa itu kerana ia sangat mahal dan susah ditemui," katanya. Mengimbas kembali peristiwa yang tidak diketahui orang itu, Zunar sekali lagi tersenyum. Dia berharap hospital berkenaan dapat memaafkan tindakannya, sambil mengingatkan, perbuatan itu hanya sekali dilakukannya.

Salleh Abbas punya pasal

Pada 1985, bermulalah detik Zunar - ketika itu berusia 28 tahun - menjadi pelukis kartun sepenuh masa. Ketika itu Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad baru saja menjadi perdana menteri. Mengikut ingatan Zunar, pada zaman itu kebanyakan orang memuji Dr Mahathir. "Boleh dikatakan kira-kira 90 peratus rakyat suka dia, tetapi saya rasa ada banyak perkara yang tidak kena. "Contohnya dasar Pandang ke Timur yang saya rasa tidak memberi faedah kepada rakyat, sebaliknya hanya memanfaatkan Dr Mahathir seorang," jelasnya. Insiden yang benar-benar membuat darah Zunar 'menggelegak' ialah kes pemecatan ketua hakim negara, Tun Salleh Abbas. Nadanya tegas apabila menyentuh kejadian itu. "Mana boleh memecat seorang hakim!" katanya. Untuk mengetahui apa sebenarnya terjadi pada sistem kehakiman negara, Zunar mula menempah majalah bulanan Majlis Peguam Malaysia - Insan - pada masa itu. Dia juga mula membaca majalah Aliran dan aktif menghadiri pelbagai forum dan ceramah. Suatu hari ketika menghadiri forum anjuran Majlis Peguam dan menyertai sesi soal jawab, tiba-tiba dia bertanya kepada dirinya sendiri: "Aku seorang kartunis, boleh lukis semua ini dalam kartun. Mengapa perlu tunggu sampai sesi soal jawab?" Selebihnya adalah sejarah. Zunar mula melukis kartun politik pada usia 30 tahun. Ketika itu, Zunar masih menyumbang kartunnya kepada majalah Gila-Gila. Majalah itu dirasakannya kurang sesuai untuk kartun politik. Justeru Zunar mula mencari wadah lain. Dia menyertai akhbar Berita Harian yang difikirkannya suatu medan baru untuk dia bebas menterjemah fikirannya menggunakan dakwat. Namun enam bulan kemudian, dia meninggalkan tempat itu dengan rasa kecewa. "Ada banyak sekatan. Kamu tidak boleh melukis dengan bebas. Saya sangkakan itu tempat untuk saya siarkan kartun politik tetapi hakikatnya, mereka dimiliki oleh parti dan saya tidak boleh lukis apa yang saya ingin lukis," katanya.

Harakah tempat bermula

Zunar berhenti melukis dan tidak lagi menghantar sebarang kartun kepada majalah atau surat khabar selama dua tahun. Dia menggambarkan keadaan dirinya sebagai "bersara" ketika itu. Untuk menampung kehidupan, dia mengajar kanak-kanak melukis sambil kadang-kala menulis skrip filem. Sehinggalah 1998 apabila semboyan reformasi dilaungkan. Ia sekaligus menyemarakkan semula impian kartun politik Zunar. Ketika itu, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim dipecat daripada jawatan timbalan perdana menteri dan menjadi musuh Dr Mahathir. Sebelum Anwar ditangkap dan dimasukkan ke penjara, rumahnya di Bukit Damansara mengadakan ceramah atau perjumpaan setiap malam. Walaupun sudah berhenti melukis, Zunar yang dipengaruhi suasana reformasi ketika itu turut melukis kartun politik, mencetaknya lalu dibawa ke rumah Anwar untuk diagihkan kepada orang ramai. Dua hari kemudian, ada kawan-kawannya bertanya mengapa dia tidak menghantar kartunnya kepada mana-mana penerbitan. Mereka kemudian mencadangkan satu akhbar bukan arus perdana - Harakah. Cadangan kawan itu terus menyedarkan Zunar lalu mendorongnya keluar daripada "persaraan" yang lesu. Dia mengangkat semula berus lukisan dengan lebih serius. Kartun Zunar mula muncul di Harakah pada 1999 dan ia juga menandakan bermulanya titik perubahan baru dalam hidupnya. Zunar berkata dia berasa mendapat kebebasan melukis di Harakah. Ia adalah perasaan yang tidak pernah dialaminya sebelum ini. Pada masa sama, namanya juga semakin dikenali ramai. "Saya boleh melukis apa yang saya ingin dan orang ramai mula mengenali saya," katanya. Selepas beberapa tahun melukis untuk Harakah, Zunar mula mendapati pembaca utama akhbar itu ialah orang Melayu dan dia berasa perlu mengembang khalayaknya kepada pembaca antarabangsa. Maka, dia mula menghantar kartun politik ke Malaysiakini lalu menjadi penyumbang tetap portal dalam talian itu sehingga kini. Pada November tahun lalu, pameran Zunar di Komtar, Pulau Pinang diserang sekumpulan orang yang tidak puas hati dengan karya-karyanya yang mengkritik Datuk Seri Najib Razak. Zunar juga ditangkap polis mengikut Akta Hasutan. Tiga minggu kemudian, dia sekali lagi ditangkap oleh polis di satu majlis amal dan kira-kira 1,000 buku kartun dan baju T mengandungi perkataan dianggap tidak wajar oleh pihak berkuasa, dirampas. Berhadapan dengan siri tekanan, Zunar mengakui semangatnya memang rendah setiap kali ditindas, tetapi tetapi sokongan rakyatlah yang memberi kekuatan untuk dia terus teguh melakar dengan berusnya. "Macam slogan kelab Liverpool, You'll Never Walk Alone. Saya tak pernah bersendirian kerana rakyat menyokong saya, seperti orang yang kamu nampak tadi. Dia memberi saya tenaga," kata Zunar. Sebelum temubual ini dijalankan, Zunar bertemu dengan seorang lelaki di sebuah restoran di bawah studionya. Lelaki itu teruja apabila terserempak Zunar lalu terus mengeluarkan RM100 untuk membeli buku kartun daripadanya. Dalam perbualan mereka, lelaki itu mendorong Zunar agar jangan putus asa melukis. Lelaki itulah rakyat yang dimaksudkan Zunar.

Corrupt government fears cartoons

On 17 Dec 2016, I was arrested again by the police during my fund-raising program with my fans. The police confiscated more than 1,000 books which involved twelve (12) titles, causing losses of estimated RM30,000. I was taken to the police station and investigated under Section 124 of the Penal Code for being "Detrimental to Parliamentary Democracy. Two of my assistants and two fans were also arrested. I was questioned for almost 6 hours and released under bail at midnight. I would have to report back to the police station on the 30 Dec 2016. According to the police, they will apply a law to forfeit my rights (lucut hak) over my books. The arrest was the second in three weeks. On 26 Nov 2016, I was arrested under the Sedition Act and detained in the police lock-up during my exhibition in Penang. The arrest came a day after a pro-government mobs Umno Youth) attacked my exhibition at KOMTAR. These add up to the long list of harrassments and intimidation by the Malaysian government on me. In November this year, the government imposed a travel ban on me to stop me from traveling abroad. Apart from that, I am now facing nine (9) charges under the Sedition Act. Prior to that, I was arrested and locked up twice under the Sedition Act, seven of my cartoon books are banned, three of the printers who printed my books were raided. The authorities have also raided my office several times and arrested my webmasters. (See details here https:/news/story-cartoonist-zunar/ ) The timeline in the link shows that the intimidations and harasments on me have escalated from 2009 until now. The pattern is directly proportionate to the increased level of corruption and injustices. Corrupt government fears cartoons. I would like to point out my stand: talent is not a gift, but a responsibility. It is my responsibility as a cartoonist to expose corruption and injustices. Do I fear jail? Yes, but responsibility is bigger that fear. You can ban my books, you can ban my cartoons, but you cannot ban my mind. I will keep drawing until the last drop of my ink. Zunar Political Cartoonist 19 December 2016 Awards 1. “Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award 2011” by Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI). 2. Human Rights Watch Hellman/Hammett Award for 2011 & 2015. 3. “Cartooning For Peace Award 2016” Geneva by Kofi Annan 4. International Press Freedom Award, Committee to Protect Journalist, New York 2015 *********************************************

Kerajaan rasuah takut kepada kartun

Pada 17 Dis 2016, saya ditangkap lagi ketika majlis kumpul dana bersama peminat-peminat. Polis juga merampas lebih 1000 buah buku dengan 12 judul menyebabkan kerugian dianggar RM30,000. Saya telah di bawa ke balai Polis dan diasiasat di bawah Seksyen 124 Kanun Keseksaan atas alasan "Mengancam Demokrasi Berparlimen." Dua orang pembantu saya dan dua orang peminat juga turut ditahan. Saya disoal selama 6 jam dan dibebas dengan ikat jamin pada tengah malam. Saya diminta melapor diri semula kepada polis pada 30 Dis 2016. Menurut polis, mereka akan ke mahkamah untuk melucut hak buku-buku saya. Tangkapan tersebut adalah kali kedua dalam tiga minggu. Pada 26 Nov lepas, saya ditangkap dan dimasukkan ke lokap di bawah Akta Hasutan. Tangkapan itu dibuat sehari selepas Pemuda Umno menyerang pameran kartun saya di Komtar. Kejadian-kejaadian ini menambah senarai panjang tekanan dan kekerasan oleh kerajaan Malaysia terhadap saya. Pertengahan November lepas, kerajaan mula mengenakan sekatan menghalang saya dari keluar negara. Selain itu, saya sekarang sedang menghadapi 9 tuduhan di bawah Akta Hasutan. Sebelum itu, saya pernah dilokap dua kali di bawah Akta Hasutan, tujuh buku saya diharam, tiga kilang pencetak yang mencetak buku saya diserbu. Pejabat saya juga telah beberapa kali diserbu pihak berkuasa dan pengandali laman web saya ditangkap. Lengkapnya lihat di pautan sini. (See details here https:/news/story-cartoonist-zunar/ ) Garis masa dalam pautan tersebut menunjukkan tekanan dan kekerasan terhadap saya meningkat dari tahun 2009 sehingga sekarang. Ini selari dengan kadar kenaikan rasuah dan ketidakadilan. Kerajaan rasuah takut kepada kartun. Saya ingin menyatakan pendirian: Bakat bukan anugerah, tapi sebuah tanggungjawab. Adalah menjadi tanggungjawab saya sebagai kartunis untuk membongkar rasuah dan ketidakadilan. Adakah saya takut dipenjara? Ya. Tetapi tanggungjawab lebih besar dari ketakutan. Mereka boleh haramkan buku saya, mereka boleh haramkan kartun saya, tetapi anda tidak boleh mengharamkan minda saya. Saya akan terus melukis hingga ke titisan dakwat terakhir. Zunar Kartunis politik 19 Disember 2016

I need your support – Zunar

All my drawings which were exhibited in Penang on 25 November 2016 were confiscated by the police and placed under the police custody for an indefinite amount of time. The loss occured from that is about RM21,000.00. 1. The printing cost for each drawing (4 feet x 6 feet) was at RM800/piece x 20 pieces = RM16,000.00; 2. Steel panels and concrete base for all boards were RM5,000.00. On 17 December 2016, I organised a fund-raising high-tea in order to get crowd-funding to recover some losses, but I was arrested by the police instead. This time the police confiscated more than 1,000 books which are also placed under the police custody for an indefinite amount of time. The estimated loss is about RM30,000.00. I lost about RM51,000.00 in three weeks. Beside that, I also have court cases. The most immediate is to challenge the travel ban imposed on me by the government, which will start on 28 December 2016. Not forgetting the nine (9) sedition charges on 24 January 2017. I need your support to carry on to draw "Cartoons for the People." Donations are welcomed through this link: https:/shop/donation/contribute/ or you can contribute me on my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/zunar or direct to my personal account, as below: Name: Zulkiflee B SM Anwarul Haque Bank: Maybank Account number: 514253508643 KL Main Branch Swift code MBBEMYKL Routing Number: 02 600 12 87 Thank you very much for the support

Photos of the happenings

ATTACKED AND ARRESTED!

10th Sedition charge is on the way On 26 November 2016, I was arrested, detained and investigated under two laws: the Sedition Act and the Penal Code. The arrest was made a day after an attack on me and my exhibition by the pro-government thugs. The exhibition was held at Komtar Mall in Penang, about 4 hours drive up-north from Kuala Lumpur. All 20 drawings that were exhibited have been confiscated by the police and now placed under their custody. Even though I have been released, the harassment from the Malaysian government is far from over. I have to report back to the police in Penang on 27 December 2016 for further investigation. And yesterday (26 November), two people who assisted me in organizing the exhibition were also called up by the police for questioning. I can smell that the 10th charge of the Sedition Act is on the way. I am already facing 9 charges under that draconian act and the trial is set to be on 24 January 2017. On 25th Nov 2016, I was forced to call off the exhibition due to an attack by pro government thugs. I was verbally abused, physically attacked, and my artworks were vandalized. More than 30 thugs stormed into my newly launched exhibition in a public area. They were aggressive, hostile and abusive. Some of them assaulted me. I was fortunate that a few members of public came to my rescue. The few policemen who turned up were unable to control the thugs and they had to call in the anti riot unit. The thugs demanded that I take down the exhibition and some of them proceeded to destroy my artworks.

GEORGETOWN 27 NOVEMBER 2016. Kartunis kontroversi, Zulkiflee SM Anwarul Haque atau dikenali Zunar, 54 (kiri), direman sehari oleh Mahkamah Majistret Georgetown, bagi membantu siasatan berhubung pameran kartun yang berbau hasutan di Kompleks Tun Abdul Razak (KOMTAR) Jumaat lepas. NSTP/EMAIL

Zunar, 29 Nov 2016 See the story of Zunar here: https:/news/story-cartoonist-zunar/

“I WILL KEEP DRAWING UNTIL THE LAST DROP OF MY INK.” TALKING TO ZUNAR. PART II.

By: Charlotte Chin I had the pleasure to interview the Malaysian cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, who is better known as Zunar. His cartoons are cynical, regime-critical and are dealing with several political issues such as corruption, cronyism or the glamorous life of Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah (1MDB scandal).

Zunar was imprisoned during the 1990s and was slammed with nine Sedition Act charges for his cartoons as well as his tweets, which are criticising the Malaysian judiciary in 2015. If he is found guilty of all nine charges, he faces up to 43 years of jail term.

Follow this link to read the first part of the interview, which is dealing with Zunar´s career, the intentions of his cartoons as well as the Reformasi time.

In this part Zunar is describing his work and is talking about his trial and his visions for the future of Malaysia.

How successful is your work? Does it affect people and how does it affect them?

13781939_10207840394025059_6180231974571113326_n — I visited Zunar in his office in Kuala Lumpur where you can see his art pieces.

Kenyataan Akhbar Zunar: Karikatur Hari Raya

Karikatur Hari Raya: Saya tawarkan kursus "Mari Ketawa" kepada NGO Baju Merah dan KPN ISU karikatur dalam media sosial Ahli Parlimen Taiping, Nga Kor Ming. Setelah saya membaca, didapati karikatur tersebut tidak mempunyai sebarang kesalahan dari segi etika, budaya atau undang-undang. Kartun harus dibaca dari dua aspek - subjek dan objek. Subjek dalam kartun ini ialah isu semasa manakala sambutan Hari Raya hanyalah objek latar belakang untuk memperkukuhkan isu. Kartun tersebut menggambarkan dua orang kanak-kanak datang ke rumah seseorang untuk berhari raya. Dialognya - "Tahun ini, kami tak mintak duit raya, kami mintak derma," dan dialog satu lagi berbunyi "Tak dapat derma, dedak pun OK." Kartun ini tidak bercerita tentang Hari Raya. Isu yang hendak disampaikan adalah "derma" dan "dedak." Kedua-dua isu ini bukanlah ciptaan kartunis atau Nga. Ia adalah isu yang hangat diperkata di Malaysia sekarang ini. Ia timbul selepas ada orang mengambil wang 2.6 bilion dan dikatakan sebagai derma dan kemudian memberi imbuhan (dedak) kepada pengikut-pengikutnya supaya menutup mulut. Memang menjadi tanggungjawab kartunis untuk membawa isu-isu semasa dalam setiap karya-karyanya. Dan ia sangat menepati kriteria kartun-kartun satira. Jika karikatur itu tidak menyalahi etika melukis kartun, kenapa pula menjadi kesalahan apabila Ahli Parlimen Taiping, Nga Kor Ming menyiarkan dalam media sosialnya? Ahli Umno membuat laporan polis dan semalam, kira-kira 200 orang NGO berbaju merah mengadakan tunjuk perasaan di depan pejabat DAP kerana katanya kartun itu mengguris perasan Melayu dan Islam. Bagaimana mereka boleh terguris sedangkan memberi wang kepada tetamu yang datang ke rumah bukanlah ajaran Islam. Dan budaya wang dalam sampul "Ang Pow" jelas berasal dari budaya mesyarakat Cina, bukan budaya Melayu. Saya difahamkan, karikatur ini pun dilukis oleh seorang kartunis Melayu dan Islam. Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakarpula mahu Nga di siasat di bawah Akta Hasutan. Jika kartun begini dianggap jenayah, kartun-kartun satira lain seperti "Senyum Kambing" juga jenayah dan juga patut disiasat. Saya tidak faham IQ dan mentaliti orang-orang berkuasa di Malaysia. Bagi saya, kartun tersebut jelas tidak menyalahi dari sudut etika dalam lukisan kartun. Kartun ini juga tidak bertentangan mana-mana budaya atau agama. Kartun ini juga bukanlah satu kesalahan di bawah undang-undang jenayah. Orang yang waras akalnya, apabila membaca kartun tersebut, pasti akan terhibur. Saya tidak faham kenapa ahli-ahli Umno, KPN dan NGO baju merah tidak melihat kartun ini sebagai bahan ketawa ringan. Apakah ahli-ahli Umno, KPN dan NGO baju merah ini manusia berhati batu yang tidak mempunyai deria ketawa? Jika begitu keadaannya, saya dengan ini ingin menawarkan kursus "mari ketawa" kepada mereka secara percuma. Saya sanggup menerima jemputan untuk mengadakan kursus tersebut di mana juga. Saya khuatir kerana kurang ketawa boleh meningkatkan depression dan mengundang berbagai penyakit. Saya percaya tidak ada sebuah bangsa yang akan maju jika mereka sudah tidak tahu ketawa. Zunar Kartunis Politik 12 Julai 2016

Zunar Wins ‘Cartooning For Peace’ Award

by KC Yap, May 7, 2016 He’s got 99 problems, but anonymity ain’t one of ‘em. As a notorious cartoon satirist, Zunar is the bane of local ruling elites. Courting enmity for his lampooning of Malaysian politicking, he’s also become somewhat of a hero to regular citizenry. And now, to add to his ever expanding display cabinet, is the 2016 Swiss Foundation Cartooning for Peace Award. Presented in Geneva by honorary president Kofi Annan, Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque (as Zunar was born) was also featured back in our August 2015 issue. In our piece, he was one of six supremely courageous individuals who did not, would not and could not bow to the pressures of conformity. Refusing to be intimidated by regimes, he once said, “How can I be neutral, when even my pen has a stand?” Currently facing numerous sedition charges that could earn him several decades in jail, he also won last year’s International Press Freedom Award, given by the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists. His message to August Man readers back then? “Laugh, before they ban laughing” Our best wishes are with Zunar, who continues to be the ironic voice of reason and reflection. Source: https://augustman.com/article/zunar-wins-cartooning-for-peace-award

Zunar awarded “2016 Cartooning For Peace Award”

Caption: 1. Zunar recieving the award from Kofi Annan at the Palais Eynard, Geneva. 2. Zunar explain to Kofi Annan about his cartoon at the exhibition at Lac Leman. Also present are Geneva Mayor, Mr Guillaume Barazzone (right) and cartoonist Plantu

Zunar awarded "2016 Cartooning For Peace Award" I am honored to be one of the winner of 2016 Cartooning For Peace Award". The ceremoney was held at the Palais Eynard in Geneva in the presence of the Honorary President of the Swiss Foundation Cartooning for Peace, the former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr Kofi Annan and Municipal Councillor for the City of Geneva Mr Guillaume Barazzone. The other winner is Kenyan cartoonist, Gado. Work of both cartoonists are exhibited at the Lac Leman in Geneva. ZUNAR's STATEMENT "2016 International Editorial Cartoons Prize" gives new strength for me to continue the fight against the 60-year old corrupt and repressive Malaysian regime. Human rights and freedom of expression in Malaysia are in dire straits. Sedition Act and other draconian laws are used widely to silence critics. All institutions are being used as political tools by the regime in order to maintain power. Talent is not a gift, but a responsibility. It is a duty for me as a cartoonist to use the art as a weapon to fight unjust rulers. Fear and intimidation are the potent tools being used by the regime to scare the people. I believe, strokes of art can lead the people to cross the line of fear. I also strongly believe that, when facing with moral crisis, there is no room to grumble in silence. We have to stand up and cry our voice out loud and clear. Neutrality is escapism for those who live in comfort zone. How Can I be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand! Finally, I would like to remind the regime that repression begets rebellion: you can ban my cartoons, you can ban my books, but you cannot ban my mind. I will continue to fight through cartoons. I will keep fighting until the last drop of my ink. Zunar Political cartoonist 3rd May 2016, Geneva THE BACKGROUND Zunar (Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque) is a political cartoonist from Malaysia. Through his cartoons, he expose corruption and abuse of power committed by the government of Malaysia. His slogan is "How Can I be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand". He is now facing nine charges under Sedition Act and facing possible 43 years jail if found guilty. He was detained and locked behind bars twice first time was on September 2010 for two days and recently on 10th of February 2015 for three days. Five of his cartoon books have been banned and his office in Kuala Lumpur has been raided a few times and thousands of his cartoon books were confiscated. The printers and bookstores around the country which carry his cartoon works, have been raided and they have also been warned not to print or carry any of his titles. October 2014, three of his assistants were arrested for selling my latest cartoon books. The webmaster, who manages his website and online bookstore, was called in by the police for interrogating. Previous Awards: 1) “Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award 2011” by Cartoonists Right Network International 2) Human Rights Watch Hellman/Hammett Award for 2011 & 2015 3) International Press Fredom Award, Commitee to Protect Journalist, New York 2015 ****************************** Zunar terima anugerah "2016 International Editorial Cartoons Prize" Saya berasa bartuah dipilih sebagai salah seorang pemenang "International Editorial Cartoons Prize" bagi tahun 2016. Majlis penyampaian diadakan di Palais Eynard di Geneva dengan kehadiran Presiden Terhormat Swiss Foundation Cartooning for Peace yang juga bekas Setiausaha Agung Bangsa-bangsa Bersatu Kofi Annan dan juga Datuk Bandar Geneva, Guillaume Barazzone. Kartunis dari Kenya, Gado juga memenangi anugerah yang sama untuk tahun ini. Disamping itu, kedua-dua kartunis juga diberi peluang untuk mempamerkan karya kartun mereka di tepi tasik Lac Leman in Geneva. ZUNAR's STATEMENT "2016 International Editorial Cartoons Prize" memberi kekuatan baru kepada saya untuk terus menggugah kerajaan zalim Malaysia yang telah berusia 60 tahun. Hak asasi manusia dan kebebasan bersuara di Malaysia kini berada dalam keadaan yang sangat parah. Akta Hasutan dan akta-akta lapuk lainnya diguna oleh pemerintah untuk melenyapkan suara pengiritik. Semua institusi kerajaan diguna sebagai perkakas oleh pemerintah untuk terus berkuasa. Bakat bukanlah keistimewaan, tetapi adalah tanggung jawab. Menjadi tanggungjawab saya sebagai kartunis untuk menggunakan seni sebagai senjata bagi menentang pemerintah zalim. Senjata ampuh bagi mana-mana rejim di dunia ialah dengan menanamkan ketakutan dan intimidasi untuk menakutkan rakyat. Lakaran seni dapat memimpin rakyat untuk merentasi garisan ketakutan. Apabila kita berhadapan dengan krisis moral, tiada ruang untuk merungut dalam diam. Kita mesti bangun dan melaungkan suara dengan kuat dan jelas. Bersikap neutral adalah adalah satu bentuk pelarian dari kenyataan bagi mereka yang hidup dalam zon yang selesa. Bagaimana saya boleh bersikap neutral, sedangkan pen saya juga punya stand. Akhirnya, saya ingin mengingatkan kepada kerajaan Malaysia bahawa semakin kuat tekanan, semkain kuat pula penentangan: Anda boleh mengharamkan kartun saya, anda boleh mengharamkan buku saya, tetapi anda tidak boleh mengharamkan fikiran saya. Saya akan terus berjuang melali kartun. Saya akan terus berlawan sehingga ke titisan dakwat terakhir. Zunar Political cartoonist 3 May 2016, Geneva LATAR BELAKANG Zunar, nama sebenar Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque adalah kartunis politik di Malaysia. Karya-karya beliau memfokus kepada membongkar korupsi, salah laku dan kezaliman kerajaan Malaysia di bawah pentadbiran Barisan Nasional. Pada 10 Februari lepas, beliau ditangkap di dimasukkan ke lokap selama tiga hari di bawah Akta Hasutan. Sebelum itu, pada September 2010, beliau juga pernah ditangkap di bawah undang-undang yang sama. Pada 3 April 2015, Zunar di dakwa ke mahkamah atas sembilan tuduhan di bawah Akta Hasutan. Hukuman maksima untuk semua kesalahan ini adalah 43 tahun penjara. Sebelum itu, pemerintah mengharamkan tujuh buku kartun beliau. Pengilang dan pekedai di seluruh Malaysia diugut supaya tidak mencetak dan menjual buku-buku kartun Zunar. Pejabatnya di Kuala Lumpur sudah tiga kali diserbu penguasa dan ribuan buku dirampas. Zunar adalah satu-satunya rakyat Malaysia dan termasuk dalam 10 inidividu dari seluruh dunia yang dipilih dalam kempen ‘Write for Rights (#W4R) 2015' oleh Amnesty International.

ZUNAR JOINS EDWARD SNOWDEN TO DISCUSS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

ZUNAR JOINS EDWARD SNOWDEN TO DISCUSS FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION By Sukhbir Cheema

12491922_10153847109824281_3281512049783726581_o

Political cartoonist Zunar is set to join renowned whistle-blower and cyber security expert, Edward Snowden as a panellist for an upcoming forum on freedom of expression. The three-day forum titled, "Freedom of Expression in a Changing World: What Cannot Be Said" to be held at the University of California, Irvine, from January 22 to January 24 will see Zunar speaking on the colonial Sedition Act used to stifle the freedom of expression in Malaysia. The forum, held to coincide with the first anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in France, aims to study and discuss the parameters of freedom of expression on campus, on the internet, in journalism, and in a rapidly changing world. Edward Snowden, is scheduled to appear via webcam along with his biographer, the prize-winning American journalist and author Barton Gellman. Among the other speakers include internet freedom advocate Rebecca Mackinnon, Mexican-American cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz, political cartoonists Matt Bors, Steve Brodner, Ann Telnaes. Click here to obtain more information on the event. ENDS.

WASHINGTON POST PUBLISHES ZUNAR OPINION PIECE ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

WASHINGTON POST PUBLISHES ZUNAR OPINION PIECE ON FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION By Sukhbir Cheema

Zunar started off 2016 with a bang by having his opinion piece published in a major American newspaper on New Year's day. The Washington Post, founded in 1877, is one of the country's oldest and widely circulated paper. In the online post titled, "The Malaysian government has no sense of humor — and that’s dangerous", published on January 1, Zunar noted the absence of human rights issues in the agenda of United States President Barack Obama's third visit to Malaysia. In expressing his disappointment, Zunar took Obama to task to address the stifling of freedom of expression in Malaysia. Zunar also explained how he was treated by the local authorities and the manner in which his cartoons were banned from being sold in public. The opinion piece was published in the physical newspaper on January 3 as well. Here is the entire opinion piece in full: “I’m a cartoonist in a country where cartooning can be a crime. Under my pen name, Zunar, I expose corruption and abuses of power by the Malaysian government. As it happens, I have a good deal of material to work with. For instance, Prime Minister Najib Razak is currently facing questions about a$700 million “donation” made to his personal bank account. Last February, police raided my home in the middle of the night and hauled me off to jail. I was handcuffed for eight hours and thrown into a cell with all the other criminal suspects. I managed to avoid telling my cellmates what I was in for: using Twitter. I was accused of sedition over a series of tweets I sent out opposing the jailing of a prominent Malaysian opposition leader. Now I’m facing nine charges under my country’s archaic, colonial-era Sedition Act, which could result in a 43-year prison sentence . The court proceedings against me begin this month. I was in the United States in November to receive a press freedom award from the Committee to Protect Journalists. While I was discussing my case with American journalists and cartoonists, President Obama was in Kuala Lumpurmeeting with Najib — the third time they met face to face. Obama is eagerly courting Malaysia in his efforts to fight extremism and to advance the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, and his meeting reportedly focused on that to the virtual exclusion of everything else. That’s a grave disappointment and a missed opportunity. Obama has a responsibility to put the issue of human rights on the table. The legal assault against me is nothing new, but it marks a major escalation. The authorities have repeatedly sought to silence me. My office has been raided multiple times since 2009, and authorities have confiscated thousands of my cartoon books. In 2010, five of my books — including “1 Funny Malaysia” — were banned by the home affairs minister, who declared the contents “detrimental to public order.” Later that year I was detained by police and locked up for two days after the publication of “Cartoon-O-Phobia.” To say the least, the Malaysian government has no sense of humor. In late 2014, my webmaster was called in for questioning, and three of my assistants were arrested for selling my books. I was also brought in for questioning by the police, and the company that processes orders for my website was forced to disclose my customer list. In January, the police raided my office and then opened two investigations in February under the Sedition Act. That’s when they really threw the book at me. The government hasn’t just targeted me and my associates; it also has cracked down on the entire ecosystem of free expression. Three companies that printed my books were raided and warned not to print my books in the future or their licenses would be revoked. Likewise, bookstores that carried my book were raided and their licenses were threatened. As a result, no one dares print or sell my books. In such an environment, people like me must turn to the Internet to share our opinions and art. But now that space is under attack as well. Twitter chief executive Jack Dorsey recently proclaimed that the platform is a bastion of “freedom of expression” and speaking “truth to power.” With my personal slogan of “How Can I Be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand,” I embrace his vision. The reality, though, is quite different. If a person can face sedition charges for stating a belief in 140 characters or less, then there is no freedom of expression. The Malaysian Sedition Act is incredibly broad, banning any act, speech or publication purported to bring contempt against the government or royal sultans. In 2012, Najib pledged to repeal the act because, he said, it “represents a bygone era.” He’s since reversed course and moved to strengthen it. I’ve been charged with one count of sedition for each supposedly seditious tweet. I could successfully fight one, or maybe two, counts, but nine counts and a potential 43-year prison sentence make clear that the government wants to make an example of me. I need help from people around the world who share my commitment to freedom of expression. Amnesty International is highlighting my case as part of its Write for Rights campaign, the largest human rights effort on the planet. You can personally write to Prime Minister Najib and call on his government to drop the charges against me and to abolish laws like the Sedition Act that squelch freedom of expression. Public pressure from around the globe can make a big difference in my case and beyond. I hope you’ll join with me to take a stand. To read the opinion piece on its original website, please click here. ENDS.