Zunar to feature in Penang exhibition starting Sunday

Two hundred of political cartoonist Zunar’s original art pieces will be exhibited at the Balai Seni Lukis Pulau Pinang, for three weeks starting on May 5 (Sunday).

Zunar, whose real name is Zulkiflee Anwar Alhaque, is excited to be doing an exhibition again in Penang.

He recalled how his first attempt to exhibit his work in Komtar in 2016 was disrupted by Umno Youth members.

"I am happy that Penang has again taken the lead to exhibit my artwork, I am very proud of the Penang Museum for taking this bold step to support my work," Zunar told Malaysiakini.

He said he is aware that there are questions asking why most of his artwork lampoons the previous BN regime, particularly former premier Najib Abdul Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor.

"We need to look back sometimes so that we can move forward, but these artworks are part of my humorous documentation for all that has happened in the country," he added.

The exhibition will open at 2pm on Sunday, and it will be launched by PKR president and Port Dickson MP Anwar Ibrahim.

Zunar will also display his previously banned books, a replica of his orange lock-up garbs, and a pair of handcuffs – as symbols of his detention under the Sedition Act 1948 during Najib's rule.

Multiple raids, books confiscated

The cartoonist is known for highlighting corruption in the Malaysian government, and Najib and Rosmah often feature in his drawings.

He had fans’ admiration with slogans like, “How can I be neutral? Even my pen has a stand”.

He was previously charged with nine counts under the Sedition Act, which could have meant up to 43 years imprisonment if he was found guilty and ordered to serve his sentence consecutively.

Although he was detained and locked behind bars on five separate occasions, Zunar persisted with his art.

During interrogation, Zunar purportedly told his captors: "You can ban my books, you can ban my cartoons, but you cannot ban my mind. I will keep drawing until the last drop of my ink."

His office has been raided a few times and thousands of his books were confiscated.

"The printers and bookstores around the country, which carried my cartoon works, have been raided and they have been warned not to print or carry any of my titles," Zunar said.

"Three of my assistants were arrested. The webmaster, who manages my website and online bookstore, was called in by the police. He was slapped with a travel ban for two years since 2016," Zunar added.

In trying to stop Zunar, the previous Malaysian government had used six laws - the Sedition Act, the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, the Penal Code, the Immigration Act 1959/1963, the Printing Press and Publications Act 1984, and Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.

"Laughter is the best protest. If you cannot beat them, laugh at them!" he would often say.

Many accolades for Zunar

The charges against Zunar were dropped after Pakatan Harapan took power last year, he still continues to lampoon and criticise the government that is now under a new administration.

Zunar is a multi-award-winning artist, having won the “Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award 2011” by Cartoonists Rights Network International, Washington.

He also won the "Cartooning for Peace Award 2016", Geneva, which was presented by the late UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan.

In addition, he won the Human Rights Watch Hellman/Hammett Award for 2011 and 2015.

In 2015, he was the first cartoonist to be awarded the prestigious International Press Freedom Award, by the Committee to Protect Journalist, in New York.

Zunar was also chosen by Amnesty International as one of the icons for their largest annual global campaign, 'Write for Rights’ (#W4R) in 2015. He was the only cartoonist and the only Malaysian to be chosen. - Mkini