POLITICAL cartoonist Zunar did not find it funny when a Facebook user posted an “altered” version of his work to slam Pakatan Harapan.

The cartoon, undeniably in Zunar’s style, shows caricatures of former Barisan Nasional prime ministers Abdul Razak Hussein and Najib Razak watering a money-growing tree labelled “Felda”, and a caricature labelled “Mahadey” holding a chainsaw next to the tree.

Mahadey refers to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Facebook user Neezam Perkasa, who posted the cartoon on Friday, said: “Let the picture talk. To Zunar fans, I am sorry if you misunderstand.”

Zunar – real name Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque – said he did draw a similar cartoon, but the version posted online had been altered and presented in a way that led people to think it was by him.

“My original work was altered. Now, people think I did it.

“There are comments (on Facebook) that I have changed and repented,” said the long-time BN critic, referring to those made on Neezam Perkasa’s page.

“To me, this is also defamatory,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

Zunar is well-known for his satirical cartoons that are critical of Najib, the 1Malaysia Development Bhd scandal and leaders in the former BN administration.

His work landed him in trouble with police and the Home Ministry countless times when BN was in power. Zunar saw his office and exhibitions raided, and drawings and comic books confiscated.

He was also slapped with a litany of sedition charges but these were dropped after PH wrested Putrajaya.

Last week, he won RM1,000 in damages after his book, Sapuman: Man of Steal, was barred from being distributed and sold for 10 months by the Home Ministry two years ago.

Zunar said even though the cartoon posted by Neezam Perkasa did not bear his signature, the fact remains that it was based on his original work, which was misused.

“I am going to file a report with MCMC (Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission) over this. Then, I will issue a press statement.”

Neezam Perkasa is a popular Facebook page with more than 25,000 followers.

The page owner, whose real name is not publicly stated, said he lives in Rawang, fights for justice, and loves politics, movies and travelling. Many of his posts are pro-BN.

After the administrator of Zunar’s Facebook page posted a complaint over the cartoon, Neezam Perkasa responded with an apology, adding that he will edit the post.

Zunar then demanded that Neezam Perkasa delete the post and issue an apology for plagiarising his work.

As of yesterday evening, the cartoon was still up. – April 9, 2019.