Announcing my new cartoon book, “Sapuman – Man of Steal”
I HEREBY announce the publication of my new cartoon book -“Sapuman – Man of Steal.” The 126-page cartoon book consists of more than 150 cartoons mainly focusing on 1MDB scandal, billion-Ringgit donation to Prime Minister’s personal account as well as poking fun at my “muse”, Rosmah. Most of the cartoons in Sapuman are collections of my political cartoons that have appeared on the internet and the social medias from February 2015 until August 2015. The market price for this book is RM26, too small to compare with the RM2.6 billion donation to someone’s personal account.
The launching ceremony will be held at 5pm on the 13th September 2015 at the Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall, Jalan Maharajalela and will be officiated by Lembah Pantai MP, Nurul Izzah Anwar and National Laureate A Samad Said. Previously, the police blocked my two attempts to launch my previous book, “Ros In Kangkong Land.” Will the police come and disrupt the launching event this time? I would like to state that, “I do not really care what the police wants to do; I only focus on what I am supposed to do.”
My artworks are blended each with a stand, information and direction as well as jokes. I want people to turn their anger into jokes because laughter is a form of protest in Malaysia. In you cannot beat them, then laugh at them. No repressive regime can survive being mocked at. Since “Sapuman – Man of Steal” cannot be sold in the open market, I will have to rely on the support from readers. Only with the support of my fans, the readers and the people who are concerned can the publishing of my cartoons and books continue.
Fans and supporters can show their support by attending the launching event by registering at https://www.facebook.com/
Zunar
Political cartoonist
9 Sept 2015
THE BACKGROUND
ZUNAR
Zunar (Zulkiflee Sm Anwar Ulhaque) is a political cartoonist from Malaysia. With slogan, “How Can I be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand”, he exposes corruption and abuse of power committed by the government of Malaysia through his art.
Zunar is now facing nine charges under the archaic Sedition Act and facing possible 43 years imprisonment, and the court proceeding will start on 9 Sept 2015. He was detained and locked behind bars twice under the Sedition Act – 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 by the Malaysian government on the grounds that the contents are “detrimental to public order.” His office in Kuala Lumpur has been raided a few times and thousands of his cartoon books were confiscated. The printers, vendors, and bookstores, have been harassed. Their premises have been raided and they have been warned not to print or carry any of his books or their bussiness licence will be revoked.
Last October, three of his assistants were arrested and taken to the police station for selling his latest cartoon books. The webmaster, who manages his website and online bookstore, was called in by the police for questioning.
He was awarded the “Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award” by the Cartoonists Rights Network International in 2011, and the Human Rights Watch / Hellman-Hammett Award in 2011 & 2015.
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Mengumumkan penerbitan buku koleksi kartun baru “Sapuman – Man of Steal”
SAYA dengan ini mengumumkan penerbitan buku kartun terbaru berjudul – “Sapuman – Man of Steal.”
Buku setebal 126 muka surat ini mengandungi lebih 150 kartun-kartun yang kebanyakan memfokus kepada isu Skandal 1MDB, derma berbilion Ringgit ke dalam akaun peribadi PM dan juga lawak jenaka terhadap “idola” saya, Rosmah.
Kebanyakan kartun dalam buku ini adalah karya koleksi yang tersiar dalam internet dan media sosial sejak Februari hingga Ogos 2015. Harga pasaran buku ini adalah RM26, jauh terlalu kecil berbanding dengan derma sebanyak RM2.6 bilion yang dimasukkan ke dalam akaun seorang individu di Malaysia.
Majlis peluncurannya akan dilakukan oleh Ahli Parlimen Lembah Pantai YB Nurul Izzah dan Sasterawan Negara A Samad Said pada 13 September jam 5 petang di Dewan Perhimpunan Cina, Jalan Maharajalela, Kuala Lumpur.
Sebelum ini pihak polis telah menghalang dua percubaan saya untuk meluncurkan buku terdahulu, “Ros In Kangkong Land.” Adakah polis akan datang mengganggu majlis peluncuran kali ini? Saya ingin menegaskan bahawa saya tidak peduli apa yang polis mahu lakukan; saya hanya memfokus kepada apa yang harus saya lakukan.
Karya-karya saya disulam dengan pendirian, informasi, hala tuju dan juga jenaka. Saya mahu rakyat menterjemahkan kemarahan mereka ke dalam jenaka kerana ketawa adalah satu bentuk protes di Malaysia. Jika anda gagal menewaskan mereka, maka ketawakan mereka. Tidak ada satu pun regim zalim dapat bertahan jika ditertawakan.
Kerana “Sapuman – Man of Steal” dihalang oleh pihak berkuasa daripada dijual di kedai-kedai, saya hanya bergantung kepada sokongan daripada peminat, penyokong dan pembaca untuk terus berkarya. Hanya dengan sokongan dari mereka yang membuatkan saya akan dapat terus berkarya dan menerbitkan buku. Saya berharap peminat, penyokong dan pembaca dapat hadir di hari peluncuran dengan mendaftar di atau melawat https://www.facebook.com/
Zunar
Kartunis politik
9 September 2015
