My art is not defamatory, says cartoonist Zunar

Cartoonist Zunar says he is also a political analyst expressing his views through his cartoons. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Afif Raiezal, November 16, 2014.

For political cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Alhaque, more popularly known as Zunar, his satirical artwork against the government aims to produce more than just laughs – it aims to carry messages that are rooted in facts and in-depth study of his subjects.

Zunar, well-known for criticising the government through his cartoons, said his work should not be labelled as defamatory as his role as a political cartoonist was to interpret the errors of politicians and government through his art.

"Malaysia is different. People who are guilty are not necessarily dragged to court because the political system is such even though on paper, they (politicians) are not above the law but it is not practised.

"People who are clearly involved in corruption are not brought to face the law just like in the cases of former Sarawak chief minister Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, the Scorpene submarine scandal that involved Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, and the recent 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) despite documents proving they are guilty," he said in an exclusive interview with The Malaysian Insider.

Now under investigation for sedition, Zunar is a recipient of the Award for Courage in Editorial Cartooning by US-based Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI).

He was detained by police for two days for investigations under the Sedition Act in 2010, and currently faces possible charges under the same Act.

These curtailments on his freedom and the government's bans on his cartoons have only made him more confident that his art speaks the truth.

"If they want to say that my drawings slander them, they can deny but until now they have not come forward to deny which part or which page is slanderous," he said of the many cartoon books he has produced.

Zunar said that he did not only depend on media reports when drawing satire on an issue but said he researched different sources.

"I will do my homework first before drawing and will normally take information from different sources. I dig deeper into an issue.

"For example, if there was an issue that involved someone I knew, I would call that person up myself to confirm the report and if there was an assembly or a protest, I would go to it myself as I need to know what they are doing. Only then am I able to draw something that has meaning," he said.

His book "Komplot Penjarakan Anwar" (Plot to jail Anwar) was thus the hardest to produce as it required a lot of "homework".

The Kedah-born artist said a political cartoonist should fulfil two criteria to be able to draw people's attention – capture the subject and carry a message.

"In the drawings, we either exaggerate or understate certain elements. So that is why when the prime minister's wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor is the subject, we use her hair as the object and emphasise it, or in the case of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, we exaggerate the size of his nose.

"The cartoons must draw attention because they will see the subject and the object and then only the message," he explained.

Zunar holds that it is completely appropriate for political cartoonists to criticise the government as it was part of their role and responsibility.

In that sense, he adds, they are also political analysts.

"The difference is that we present our views through our drawings. Any political cartoonist in the world would also criticise the government of the day so the people who say we slander have to know that we are also political analysts.

"We also know more about a political situation that is happening. I am also very astute in Malaysian politics as I am also involved," he said.

On November 6, three of Zunar's assistants were detained by police for selling two of his books – “Konspirasi Memenjarakan Anwar” (Conspiracy to jail Anwar) dan “Pirate of the Carry-BN" – the title of the second being a play of words on the Hollywood movie and the acronym for the ruling party, Barisan Nasional.

The webmaster of his website www.zunar.my was also called to give statement to the police.

Zunar also recently angered Barisan Nasional supporters by dressing up as a judge, with a mop on his head as a wig, and acting as if he had been bribed. For this "street theatre" performance outside the Putrajaya court complex, he was accused of insulting the judiciary.

Zunar said his actions were not meant only for the judges who presided over Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's sodomy appeal but it was a message to the public.

"It's been done before in films, just like in P. Ramlee movies where they have scenes that poke fun at judges," he said.

"I don't know why they are so angry. They cannot be affronted because it is street theatre and it's nothing unusual."

He doesn't think that his performance will influence the judges' decision in Anwar's case.

"If it was a developed country, they will accept it as art. At the least, they would laugh and no one would believe any police report saying that my actions could have influence on the judges' decision. That does not make sense," he said.

The cartoonist also expressed disappointment over the use of the Sedition Act against his cartoons, and said it was "an unusual thing for the administration to be scared of a cartoonist".

"I am used to such things. When we criticise the government, that is the risk and I am ready for it. But I am upset why the police had to go through all the trouble to detain me under the Sedition Act as if I was a criminal when they could actually sue me under civil laws.

"It is very unusual that those who sell my books were also treated like criminals. Before, my book sellers would only be given a warning but now, they are also called in for questioning," he said.

At least 50% of his cartoon work produced since 2009 has been deemed illegal by the Malaysian authorities. Outside Malaysia, he has received wide recognition, with speaking engagements in the United States and Spain, among other countries.

His book "Pirate of the Carry-BN" is in the Library of Congress in Washington D.C. and is catalogued under "Asia" along with 120,000 other cartoon books.

A book on Rosmah is in the works.

"Right now, I am in the midst of producing a book on Rosmah, the prime minister's wife whom I adore and love very much," he said.

- TMI