The High Court in Kuala Lumpur has granted cartoonist Zunar leave to challenge the Immigration Department’s travel ban on him.

Speaking to reporters outside the courtroom, Zunar - whose real name is Zulkiflee AM Anwar Ul-Haque - said he is delighted with the decision.

“I’m happy with the decision. This is the first round; I hope the outcome in the real trial, the real challenge, will also be as good as this.

“Since October last year, I have missed so many events and programmes related to my profession as a political cartoonist.

“I have so many invitations around the world to take part in exhibitions and forums, but I am unable to go. This is bad for a political cartoonist,” Zunar added.

Zunar was represented by the lawyers N Surendran, Latheefa Koya and Melissa Sasidaran.

Senior Federal Counsel Mohamad Rizal Fadzil appeared for the respondents – the director-general of immigration, the home minister and the government of Malaysia.

The matter was heard in chambers by judge Mohd Zaki Abdul Wahab.

The challenge was filed on Dec 7 last year, after Zunar found out about the ban as he was about to board a flight to Singapore on Oct 17 to attend a forum at the National University of Singapore.