PAS overreacting in urging Nanyang’s closure, says Zunar

Cartoonist Zunar has come out in defence of the cartoonist of Chinese language daily Nanyang Siang Pau, who PAS leaders claim insulted their leader Abdul Hadi Awang.

Zunar, whose real name is Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque, said urging the newspaper’s closure “is simply too excessive and is an overreaction”.

Even holding the demonstration at the newspaper’s office in Petaling Jaya today was not necessary, he said.

“For example, Bersih organised a rally only when all channels of communication with the government were closed.

“In this matter, Nanyang had apologised and retracted the cartoon,” Zunar told Malaysiakini this afternoon.

“I believe if PAS leaders or members were to write a response, to criticise or ask to meet the Nanyang cartoonist, the newspaper would listen, and even publish the opinion or criticisms of PAS on the matter,” he added.

Zunar is no stranger to controversies. He has been detained by police several times, even charged with nine counts of sedition for his cartoons lampooning Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor.

Today, PAS members and supporters protested outside the office of Nanyang Siang Pau in Petaling Jaya over the cartoon published yesterday, in which monkeys depicted Hadi and Dewan Rakyat Speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia.

'Nanyang closure a personal view'

Claiming their views to be personal and not the party’s stand, the protesters condemned the newspaper for religious tension and urged the Home Ministry to shut it down.

Zunar urged all quarters to understand the work of cartoonists.

He said cartoonists use objects, things, animals, food or even people, to convey the subject, the message in the cartoon.

“They don’t mean you are literally a monkey,” he said.

Zunar said the message in the Nanyang cartoon was about the delay of the amendments to the Syariah Courts (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act 1965 (Act 355), which Hadi tabled in Parliament last Thursday.

Act 355 opponents have condemned the delay as insulting to Parliament.

“The cartoon was trying to show that Act 355 had been delayed and would probably be up for debate in the next sitting in July,” Zunar explained.

When an issue or bill is tabled in the august House, everyone can discuss it, including cartoonists, he said.

“Everyone will debate the matter or discuss it in their own way or expertise.

“Once you enter politics, you have to take it, take the criticisms openly. Even the Prophet was open to criticisms.

“Have you seen the cartoons about Donald Trump? Well, he has to take them, now that he is the president of United States,” Zunar added.- Mkini