On June 9, 2024, Malaysian editorial cartoonist Zunar and Filipino American editorial cartoonist Angelo Lopez had a conversation about Zunar’s fight against censorship and intimidation by the Malaysian government, how Malaysia’s sedition law is used to silence critics, and the fear that authoritarian governments have of political cartoons.
Zunar Anwar Haque, better known as Zunar to Malaysians, is a cartoonist who has been drawing editorial cartoons for the past 20 years in Malaysia.
With the slogan, “How Can I be Neutral, Even My Pen Has a Stand”, Zunar’s cartoons exposes the corruption and abuse of power committed by the government of Malaysia through his art.
Malaysian government is now imposing a travel ban on Zunar to prevent from travelling abroad.
On 25th Nov 2016, Zunar was forced to call off his exhibition in Penang, due to an attack by pro government thugs. On the following day, Zunar was arrested, detained and investigated under two laws: the Sedition Act and the Penal Code.
Zunar faced nine charges under the archaic Sedition Act and faced possible 43 years imprisonment. He was detained and locked behind bars twice under the Sedition Act – first time was on September 2010 for two days and on 10th of February 2015 for three days.
Five of his cartoon books have been banned by the Malaysian government on the ground that the contents are “detrimental to public order.” His office in Kuala Lumpur has been raided a few times and thousands cartoon books were confiscated. The printers, vendors, and bookstores, have been harassed. Three of his assistants were arrested. The webmaster, who manages his website and online bookstore, was called in by the police for questioning.
Zunar is the only Malaysian selected by Amnesty International as the first Malaysian for their biggest annual international campaign, ‘Write for Rights 2015′.
Zunar has won the “Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award 2011” by Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI).
He was the 2011 Artist-in-Residence of the BilbaoArte/Fundacion and BBK, Spain.
He won the Human Rights Watch Hellman/Hammett Award for 2011 & 2015.
He won the “Cartooning For Peace Award 2016” in Geneva.
Zunar was the recipient of the International Press Freedom Awardby the Committee to Protect Journalist in New York for 2015.
You can shop for Zunar’s cartoon books, t-shirts and mugs
https://www.zunar.my/shop/
To help Zunar in his fight against corruption and tyranny, you can donate here
https://www.zunar.my/shop/donation/contribute/
Here is Zunar’s Patreon page
https://www.patreon.com/zunar
ANGELO LOPEZ BLOG 