A global cartoonists network has urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to value political cartoonist Zunar as a top Malaysian product, instead of curbing his freedom of expression.

 

In a letter to Najib dated Jan 31, Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI) said instead of subjecting Zunar to last week’s raids and other persecution, his internationally-recognised work should be celebrated.

 

“CRNI strongly objects to this illegal treatment of an important son of Malaysia.

 

“He should be rather hailed by your government as an example of Malaysia's best and brightest.

 

“We respectfully call upon you to use your good offices to assure Zunar of the rights bestowed upon him by the Malaysian constitution in the exercise of his free speech,” its executive director Robert Russell said.

 

He said “tens of thousands of journalists, human rights workers and loyal fans” follow his cartoons and the action taken against him by the state.

 

United States-based CRNI, which advocates for freedom of expression for cartoonists, has followed Zunar’s case for three years, he said.

The cartoonist's books have been repeatedly banned, police have attempted to question his customers and was even detained in 2010.

In that dramatic arrest, five police officers took Zunar into custody the same day he was supposed to launch the publication at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall.

He was taken to six police stations before being detained overnight at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport police station lock-up, more than 60km away from where he was arrested.

 

zunar arrested under sedition act 240910 01 Russell added that by persecuting Zunar, Malaysia is breaching Article 19 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which the Malaysian government is a signatory, which guarantees freedom of expression without fear of legal action.

 

On Jan 28, police raided Zunar’s office as part of investigations under the Sedition Act 1948.

 

They seized 155 copies of three book titles, citing Section 2 of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act, and Section 500 of the Penal Code.

 

The Malaysiakini cartoonist - whose real name is Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque - had been abroad during the raid.