Zunar: Are political cartoons only funny if Umno does it?

Umno has taken a leaf out of Zunar's book by holding a cartoon exhibition at the party's annual delegates assembly to mock their political rivals.

For Zunar, there is nothing funny about it because a similar exhibition that he had held last year ended up in a mob attack and police investigations.

"My message to Umno is: Go ahead, do as many cartoon exhibitions as you want. But why was it that when I did something similar in Penang, Umno (supporters) physically attacked me?

"They really have no dignity or shame," Zunar, which is the nom de plume of Zulkiflee Anwar Haque, told Malaysiakini.

Zunar (photo), who has been the subject of multiple police investigations over his work, said there appear to be two sets of laws when it comes to lampooning political figures.

"I'm not asking the police to arrest Umno's cartoonist, but why the double standards?" he asked.

Zunar's exhibition in Penang last November was disrupted by a group 30 people led by Penang Umno Youth chief Rafizal Abdul Rahim.

Following this, Zunar, who is already facing nine sedition charges in court, was arrested and investigated for making insults.

Earlier today, prime minister and Umno president Najib Abdul Razak launched the cartoon exhibition at PWTC to inspect the various works which poked fun at opposition parties.

The exhibit included one work which suggested that the opposition was led by DAP, with a large photograph DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang looming over other Pakatan Harapan leaders.

image: https://i.malaysiakini.com/1190/4a3f34316aac52375c1915ee4fa9cb7e.jpeg

- Mkini