GOVERNMENTS can change but Malaysia’s government-bashing cartoonist Zulkifli Anwar Haque’s style will not. 

The artist-activist, better known as Zunar, said he will continue criticising the government through his cartoons.

Zunar said if Barisan Nasional remains in Putrajaya after the 14th general election, he will continue fighting the regime.

“The fight doesn’t end. I will keep fighting, even if I may lose. I won’t stop until the regime falls.

“But if the regime falls in the (next) elections, I will switch and start drawing cartoons that criticise the government of the day,” he said in an interview in conjunction with the launch of Ketawa Pink Pink. 

Zunar, who has published 18 comic books, said did not want his work to be neutral because, as a cartoonist in Malaysia, his goal is regime change if the government is corrupt.

“I once spoke at the cartoonists conference in Paris… I said we cartoonists have different duties. Those in Europe and the United States criticise the government of the day.

“But cartoonists in Malaysia, Africa, the Middle East or Third World countries have to fight against regimes. There is no government in Malaysia. There is a regime.”

Zunar is both famous and controversial for his drawings that criticise those at the top of the government. His office has been raided countless times, his books confiscated and no publisher dares to openly print his comics.

He was charged with sedition in 2015 over his tweets criticising the judiciary and faces nine charges and possible jail time of 43 years. 

He has also been banned from travelling overseas since June 2016 after receiving the 2016 Cartooning for Peace Award from former UN secretary-general Kofi Annan in Geneva.

Comics on cost of living

Zunar, who posts his art online and in social media, said the medium has helped him understand the people’s sentiments in the run-up to the general election.

“I got a lot of feedback on Twitter and Facebook in the past two years. It has helped me understand what Malaysians are thinking.”

What he learned led him to realise that women are less receptive to political cartoons.

“Women think such drawings are too hard-hitting. They feel uncomfortable and think such cartoons are only for men.”

So Zunar came up with the idea of drawing “gentler” cartoons that might appeal to women and which are featured in his new book Ketawa Pink Pink.

As the title suggests, he uses pink and soft tones in the drawings. He said his previous works are more artistic but he made the changes in the latest book.

But his sarcasm and criticism of the BN government is still evident. The cover features a woman with a bouffant hairdo with a ring, branded handbag and cash stuffed in the pockets.

“The character with her ring and bag can help people relate to the current issue of the rising cost of living.”

While his previous comics focused on hammering the government, the ruling party and corruption, Zunar’s new comic book touches on the cost of living, fuel prices, healthcare cost and the goods and services tax.

“I did not focus on corruption in this book. Normal folk usually can’t relate to corruption in their daily lives. It is a political issue.

“Corruption will still be there even if the government changes, so their lives will remain the same.

“But I want people to understand that corruption has a lot to do with their lives. We have to tell them that as citizens, they are paying the price for corruption.”

Zunar said the new book is simpler, friendlier and hopefully more effective so it could help educate the people and inform voters during the election season.

“It is a book chosen for the elections. Its success will depend on the people who buy and read it. 

“I can place high value on my work but if nobody reads it, then the book is worthless. I hope voters can read it before they cast their ballot.”

The 128-page Ketawa Pink-Pink retails at RM30 a copy and is available at www.zunar.my. – March 15, 2018.