“I hope one day this government will be finally kicked out by cartoonists, because it is a cartoon government.” -Zunar

Zunar today at book launch in Petaling Jaya, one day after his release from police custody.
February 14th, 2015.

Police in Malaysia confiscated copies of political cartoonist Zunar’s new book, ROS in Kangkong Land, a satire on the prime minister’s wife, ahead of the planned book launch event today.

Zunar, one of the country’s best-known political cartoonists whose real name is Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, was arrested on Tuesday under a 1948 Sedition Act (left over from British colonial times) for a tweet critical of the government and the February 10th jailing of opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim on sodomy charges. “Those in the black robes were proud when passing sentence. The rewards from their political masters must be lucrative,” the post read.

Cover of my book, published in June 2014 proves what is happening today pic.twitter.com/QhqTDrmKrh

Zunar Cartoonist (@zunarkartunis) February 10, 2015

Zunar spent three days locked up sleeping on wooden planks in a cell. He was released yesterday.

Political cartoonist Zunar, pictured here with attorney Melissa Sasidaran, upon being released on bail from Dang Wangi police lockup yesterday at 10:40 AM Malaysia time.

Today, the cartoonist held a small event to launch his new book, and told the crowd of about 50 who gathered this morning that 200 copies of the book were confiscated by police as they were being transported from the printers to the event.

“My books have been seized by the police on its way to the launch here,” Zunar told the group of supporters and reporters. “The only printer who dared to print my books is now afraid…I have been detained three times, four printers have been raided before, so this printer thought he will be the fifth printer to be arrested.”

The illustrated book is a satire largely focused on Rosmah Mansor, the wife of the prime minister, who seems to be most famous for spending sprees on international shopping trips, and for arranging to confer on herself various humanitarian awards and honors.

Spread in The New York Times on Rosmah Manor’s “International Peace and Harmony Award,” paid for by “Family and friends in the USA and Malaysia.”

Dubbed the “first lady of shopping” by Sydney Morning Herald columnist Andrew Hornery for her high priced shopping sprees and allegedly spending A$100,000 (RM325,000) at a Sydney boutique, Rosmah one point evidently had a ring worth US$24 million shipped to Kuala Lumpur, but later returned it.

At the book launch, Zunar said sardonically that his latest work is dedicated to Rosmah who ‘inpires’ him. “This book is about Rosmah, Rosmah is my ‘idol’. She gives me a lot of inspiration. Every time she opens her mouth, I’m inspired, whenever she keeps quiet, I don’t get any inspiration.”

Zunar’s says that seven of his books have previously been banned by the government on the grounds that the contents are detrimental to public order. “They claim the contents of my books is detrimental to the security of the country, but as a cartoonist, it is my job to portray what the public are talking about. My cartoons represent the feelings of the people. That is my job and I will not be intimidated by anyone.”

According to Zunar, every time he has been detained, the printing companies that would be printing his books would also be raided, and that when he was arrested earlier this week, the printer of “ROS in Kangkongland” decided to halt work on the book, but resumed printing after he was released yesterday.

Zunar went on to say that the police’s actions would not stop him from continuing his work as a political cartoonist. “I will give a clear message to them, that I will never stop. I will continue to fight through cartoons, to overthrow a cartoon government,” he said.

He also said he was prepared to be charged since he was already under investigation for sedition. “I expect this, I’m already prepared for the worst as a political cartoonist in Malaysia when you fight an oppressive government,” he said. “I hope one day this government will be finally kicked out by cartoonists, because it is a cartoon government.”

Regarding some of his recent cartoons and posted comments lampooning the judiciary, he commented  that the judiciary should be “the last defenders of a democratic country. If you have an independent judiciary, people still have hope. But if you don’t have, nobody will protect us anymore.”

Zunar said he expected police reports to be lodged against him for his new book and that the upcoming prosecution he anticipates will only make Malaysia a laughing stock in the eyes of the international community.

Yup.