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Malaysian Political Cartoonist Questioned by Police Over Book Content
posted on by Lynzee Loveridge
Political cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar "Zunar" Ulhaque was questioned by Malaysian police due to suspected offenses contained in his book Komplot Penjarakan Anwar. He is suspected of violating the Section 8 (2) of Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 and Section 4 (1) (c) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 500 of the Penal Code. The book discusses the sodomy trial of Malaysian politician and Leader of Opposition of Malaysia (Pakatan Rakyat) Ibrahim Anwar. Many Malaysians saw the trial as a way to stifle political dissent. Zunar is also well known for criticizing the Malaysian government in his comics.
Three of Zunar's assistants were arrested on November 6 for selling copies of book outside the court where Anwar's trial was taking place. Zunar's book is not currently banned in Malaysia. The police questioned the author over its contents and also requested a list of buyers from the book's publisher, MOLPay.
"The company had no choice but to follow the order," Zunar said. He also added that the police's actions could constitute a breech of privacy.
According to the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984, all printing presses must have a license from the the Home Affairs Minister and it must be renewed each year. Section 8 (2) of the act reads
Any person who prints, imports, produces, reproduces, publishes, sells, issues, circulates, offers for sale, distributes or has in his possession for such purpose any prohibited publication shall be guilty of an offence and shall, on conviction, be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three years or to a fine not exceeding twenty thousand ringgit or to both.
A "prohibited publication" is defined in the act as any publication that is "likely to be prejudicial to public order, morality, security, or which is likely to alarm public opinion, or which is or is likely to be contrary to any law or is otherwise prejudicial to or is likely to be prejudicial to public interest or national interest."
Section 4 (1) (c) of the Sedition Act of 1948 outlines the offense of printing material thought to invoke rebellion against the government. Those found guilty are subject to a fine of up to RM5,000 (about US$1,490), a three-year prison sentence, or both.
Section 500 of the Malaysian penal code refers to laws against criminal defamation, or libel and slander. Punishment includes up to two years in prison and a fine.
At least 50% of Zunar's comics produced in 2009 are outlawed by Malaysian authorities. Cartoonists Rights Network International awarded Zunar with the Award for Courage in Editorial Cartooning.
Source: The Malaysian Insider via ComicBookResources
