Outrage over Malaysia ban on political cartoons for criticizing Govt.’s policies

KUALA LUMPUR - The Malaysian government has banned three publications containing political cartoons for criticizing its ‘policies’ of running the country.

The books, titled ‘Perak’, ‘Land of Cartoons in Malay’ and ‘1 Funny Malaysia’, were published late last year.

“All three publications have been banned for their contents that can influence the people to revolt against the leaders and government policies,” The Daily Express quoted a Malaysian Home Ministry statement, as saying.

“The contents are not suitable and detrimental to public order,” it added.

The works are mainly collections of comics by Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, known as Zunar, and other local cartoonists, questioning current events, such as the trial of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.

Zunar said that he was waiting for an official letter from the ministry, but vowed that he would not stop drawing.

“In Malaysia the government is like this. They won’t allow alternative views. You can do cartoons, you can do whatever art work you want, but it must be in line with the government (view),” Zunar said.

“Drawing cartoons it’s my social obligation … I will highlight the issues that Malaysian cartoonist have failed to highlight so far. They can ban my books, they can ban my publications, but they can’t ban my mind,” he added.

Meanwhile, online news portal Malaysiakini, which publishes 1 Funny Malaysia, said that it would file a court case to challenge the ban of its book.

Malaysia has banned dozens of publications in recent years, usually because of sexual content or alleged misrepresentation of Islam. (ANI)