KUALA LUMPUR – Popular cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Alhaque, better known by his pen name Zunar, has slammed Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor for not being open to criticism, after the lawmaker’s aide lodged a report over a Zunar-drawn caricature of him.
Zunar said the report – filed against him by Sanusi’s senior special assistant Nurul Amin Hamid on Monday – has only proven the head of state to be a “dictator” of some sort, stressing that it is unjustifiable.
He said as a public figure, Sanusi ought to take any criticism in a positive light.
He added that Sanusi should have used those comments to better himself, after the Kedah PAS deputy commissioner caused public outrage by cancelling the state’s public holiday for Thaipusam.
“He should know that once he becomes a public figure, being criticised is part and parcel of the job,” the cartoonist said in an interview with The Vibes.
“You will be criticised by various quarters on your policies and decisions. My criticism is no different.”
In the caricature, the menteri besar is depicted holding a butcher’s knife with the words “Tiada Cuti Thaipusam” (No Thaipusam Holiday) written on it, and chopping a table with people of different races on either side down the middle.
The caricature also includes a blurb that says Kedah folk have been living peacefully before he (Sanusi) came around.
“Sanusi should take this positively. Good leaders would have taken the criticism and used it to improve themselves,” Zunar said.
“But he looks like a mini dictator. His action is the kind that would have been taken by dictators around the world to silent their critics.
“To use the Sedition Act 1948 and say that the cartoon is slanderous is a very serious accusation.”
Zunar said it must be proven which part of the cartoon is slanderous, failing which it will only be an attempt to stop his freedom of expression.
The Vibes has attempted to get comments from Sanusi.
Last week, Sanusi announced that Kedah wil be cancelling its public holiday for Thaipusam, citing the movement control order, which bars all outdoor activities.
The decision immediately drew flak from various quarters.
On Monday, after filing his report, Nurul Amin, who is also Kedah PAS Youth chief, had reportedly expressed hope that the authorities will take action against the cartoonist under the Sedition Act.
Zunar said he hopes police will not resort to such action, adding that he has yet to be contacted by the authorities to date.
The cartoonist is no stranger to the Act, having been arrested five times and charged with nine different sedition counts under the Barisan Nasional administration, facing years of imprisonment.
However, following the change of government to the Pakatan Harapan administration in May 2018, all his charges were dropped in July the same year, a move that was hailed as a victory for freedom of expression. – The Vibes, January 28, 2021
