Political cartoonist Zunar has slammed Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's call on cartoonists to adopt the 1Malaysia message in their works, asking if it was an "instruction" for cartoonists to toe the line.

suaram scorpene case fundraising dinner 160612 zunar “Coming from the prime minister, the call can be interpreted as an instruction.

“Cartoonists produce artworks with messages; the most significant ones are those criticising the shortcomings of the government and on corruption, abuse of power and oppression.

“With that, the prime minister should not demean cartoonists to the level of propagandists,” said Zunar, whose full name is Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque ( above ), in a statement today.

Najib told cartoonists at an exhibition in Kuala Lumpur yesterday: "Works that are provocative and inciteful , which can lead to disunity and discord, must be avoided."

'Najib's message hypocritical'

Commenting on this, Zunar described Najib's message as "hypocritical" because cartoonists suffered the least freedom under his administration.

Cartoons are banned during the next general election, he noted.

Mainstream cartoonists too are facing prohibition from criticising the government, and the PM still protects the laws that restrict the freedom of cartoonists, he said.

"Does this mean that by binding the cartoonists' hands and feet with law and rules, he can gain support from the cartoonists?"

Questioning the integrity of 1Malaysia's national unity message by raising Najib's support for racially-divisive NGOs like Perkasa and Pekida, Zunar also called on cartoonists to criticise the Najib administration and the "1Malaysia" policy.

"Cartoons should be encouraged to flourish so they can evolve and thrive with freedom to create. It must not to be used to support government policies," he added.