Malaysia role model for election fraud, say cartoonists

A group calling itself the Independent Cartoonists Group (KKI) has launched a movement today  aimed at spreading awareness on electoral fraud through its artwork.

Dubbed ‘Cartoonists Against Election Fraud’ (CAEF), the movement wants to conduct a nationwide exhibition and publish a cartoon book to highlight the dangers of electoral fraud and why it should be opposed.

“As you know, Malaysia has become a model nation for electoral fraud. For everyone who wants to cheat, come to Malaysia,” said the group’s leader Zukiflee Anwar Haque, also known by his pen name Zunar (above).

“People used to refer to Zimbabwe; they refer to (its president) Robert Mugabe, but not anymore. If they want to cheat, they refer to (Malaysian Prime Minister) Najib Abdul Razak because there is so much fraud.”

The group also held an exhibition at a field in Petaling Jaya today, showing various cartoons on the theme of electoral fraud.

A total of 13 cartoonists were featured in the exhibition, including Zunar, Johnny Ong, Megat Roslan Abdul Wahid and Mohd Affandi Ramli.

There were also several fundraising activities around the exhibition area to raise money for the movement, including comic book sales and caricature drawings.

The guest of honour Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar arrived at about 5.15pm, towards the end of the day’s exhibition.

In her speech, she urged the audience of about 50 to continue to voice against electoral fraud, because without a clear show of objection to the Election Commission, the people would never taste freedom or see their aspirations materialise.

“So what would I ask for? Today, through cartoons and through any means possible, help us spread information,” she said.