Police question Zunar, seize phone over Kedah MB comic

 

Cartoonist Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque, better known as Zunar, was questioned by police today over a comic depicting Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor.

This is believed to be a comic that lampooned the Kedah state government's decision to cancel Thaipusam as a public holiday in the state this year.

Zunar said he was questioned for two hours and his phone was also seized.

The probe was carried out under Section 505(c) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

Section 505(c) concerns "intent to incite" or "likely to incite any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community of persons".

If convicted, a person can face a prison term which may extend to two years or a fine or both.

On Jan 21, Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said Thaipusam would not be marked as a cuti peristiwa (special holiday) since there was no celebration of the Hindu religious festival this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The decision courted criticism from various quarters, including from MIC deputy president M Saravanan, who reportedly accused the menteri besar of displaying ignorance and bias towards Hindus.

On Jan 25, an aide to the menteri besar filed a police report against Zunar over his cartoon which the menteri besar deemed to be “slanderous”.

The aide, Nurul Amin Hamid, said Zunar could have the contacted the menteri besar's office for clarification instead of creating a caricature which depicted Sanusi chopping people of various races on a table with a butcher's knife,

The accompanying caption read, “Kedahans lived peacefully before he (Sanusi) came.” - Mkini