Zunar (right) displays the art piece he is being investigated for at Bukit Aman’s commercial crime investigation department. Beside him, is lawyer Farhanna Roslan.
KUALA LUMPUR: Cartoonist and activist Zunar has come under investigation once again by the police for one of his cartoon drawings.
The cartoon in dispute this time depicts five chickens drawn to look like piggybanks being “broken”. Each piggybank is labelled with the names of various government-linked companies and funds.
Speaking to reporters after having his statement recorded at the commercial crime investigation department in Bukit Aman here, Zunar said he opted to remain silent throughout the one-hour interrogation.
“They asked me 10 questions about how I upload the image on Facebook and about the characters in my cartoon.
“The police also took my handphone for forensic investigation purposes,” he said, adding that the investigation was launched after a police report was lodged in August.
Zunar, whose real name is Zulkiflee SM Anwar Haque, said it was up to the people to interpret what the drawings mean and that he did not want to explain it any further.
Zunar’s lawyer Farhanna Rosli said police are investigating the cartoons under Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act.
In November last year, Zunar was detained and investigated by Penang police for sedition for allegedly insulting Prime Minister Najib Razak through one of his drawings.
An Umno Youth leader from Penang, Mohd Norhiesam Ismail lodged a report against Zunar, saying it was unacceptable for the cartoonist to depict national leaders like Najib in a bad light.
Umno Youth members had demanded Zunar take down his drawings which were on display at the George Town Literary Festival held at Komtar, George Town.
The commotion that erupted over his drawings resulted in the satirist having no choice but to cancel the exhibition due to security reasons.
Less than a month after the investigation in Penang, Zunar was again arrested by Dang Wangi police at the “Tea with Zunar” fundraising event on Dec 17.
He was probed under Section 124C of the Penal Code for activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy.
Zunar filed a suit against the police and government claiming he was wrongfully arrested during the fundraising event.
He also claimed his books and t-shirts were seized without any basis at the same event and demanded the police and government return the 1,187 books and 103 t-shirts they confiscated during the event.
Zunar is also facing nine sedition charges for allegedly insulting the judiciary on his Twitter account. -FMT
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