MALAYSIA’S best known political cartoonist, Zunar, is going for the jugular once again – holding a “Ketawa Pink-Pink” exhibition in Penang on Sunday.

The exhibition is named after the RM117 million pink diamond mentioned in a United States Department of Justice (DoJ) suit, which alleges that the jewel, set in a necklace, was purchased using money stolen from state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

This Sunday’s exhibition comes eight months after thugs wrecked Zunar’s last show in Penang and his artwork, which were then taken away by police.

The cartoonist, whose real name is Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, told The Malaysian Insight his roadside exhibition would be held in Lebuh Pantai from 8am till noon.

“It is friendlier to the people when your work is related to a current issue,” he said.

“My work will really be by the street, close to the people. That is also why I want to make it pink, link it to a current issue, so people can understand,” he said, adding that he had asked the city council for permission.

He also said he had come to realise that whenever he had exhibitions, those who had gone to see his work were people who were already familiar with his cartoons, like his fans and supporters.

“Most of them already read my comic books, so now I want to reach out to those who have never seen my work or those who don’t understand my drawings.

“I think it will be informational for them to learn a bit about current issues, especially with the general election expected soon,” he said.

Zunar said since it was an open art programme on the street, he does not need to apply for a permit.

“This is not a political exhibition. It is a show about the effects of corruption. I hope to use my cartoons to tell people about the DoJ, diamond ring, and cost of living issues,” he said.

Zunar is known to draw inspiration from current issues in Malaysia for his art. His work pokes fun at leaders like Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor, who had been linked to the 1MDB scandal.

The DoJ, which filed three civil suits in relation to 1MDB, had claimed that luxury assets, including the pink diamond, was purchased for the wife of “Malaysian Official 1” (MO1) using money allegedly stolen from the state investor.

MO1 was mentioned 36 times in the DoJ’s first civil suit last year. In an interview with British media network BBC later, Umno minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan confirmed that MO1 was Prime Minister Najib Razak.

Zunar – who is no stranger to controversy or brushes with the law, with numerous raids on his office, book seizures, overseas travel bans and nine sedition charges pending in court – is also not afraid about his comeback show in Penang.

His last show in Penang, on November 25 last year, was disrupted by local Umno Youth members. The next day, he was arrested by the police and spent a day in detention for investigations under the Sedition Act and the Penal Code for breaching the peace. 

Zunar said he could not do anything about the previous incident involving people he described as “uncivilised thugs”, but the unpleasant episode should not be an excuse for him to stop working.

“I can’t just stop doing what I feel is my responsibility because of people like that. That should not prevent me from continuing to do my work, even though I was arrested and art pieces seized,” he said.

Last year, when he was detained, police seized 40 of his drawings, including the stands that he exhibited the work. He said he lost between RM40,000 and RM50,000. 

“I am bringing 50 pieces of art this time,” Zunar said. – July 28, 2017.