KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysia court on Tuesday ruled that the arrest and detention of popular and award-winning cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaqur, or Zunar, two years ago by police was “lawful.” The court, led by Judicial Commissioner Vazeer Alam Mydin Meera argued that the government's seizure of 66 of his books and paintings was “illegal.” He ordered the books and the painting to be returned to the cartoonist. In his ruling, Vazeer said the authorities “had failed to provide evidence to substantiate the seizure of the books, adding that the law did not allow for the materials to be kept for a long time. “The continued confiscation of the books will affect the plaintiff's right to his livelihood,” he added. The cartoonist had filed the lawsuit against the government over the taking of his work and the ruling had been expected last Friday, but was delayed until today. The cartoonist filed the claim last year, local media reported. He is asking for RM1,650 in special damages for the books and asking for the return of the items as well as costs, interests and other relief. It is the latest in a long series of battles between Zunar and the government over censorship and his ability to work freely in the country. In July 2011, Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI) presented its annual Award for Courage in Editorial Cartooning to Zunar. Zunar has been intensely watched by the Malaysian government and subject to draconian forms of censorship for close to 10 years. In 2010, he was arrested and detained and all the newspapers in the country were ordered to not publish his cartoons. Zunar fought back by publishing five volumes of his cartoons in a booklet format so that the Malaysian public could view them. But the books were seized by the government and publishers had been told to not publish Zunar's work. In addition, his office is constantly raided, dozens of his books have been confiscated by police, and vendors are told not to sell his books or they could face court charges. His movement is monitored and his phone is tapped. In his acceptance speech in Florida, he said his cartoons have covered “corrupt practice by the Prime Minister and his cabinet members, the murder of the Mongolian model by the name of Altantuya, the conspiracy against Anwar Ibrahim, the domination of the Prime Minister's wife, the Scorpene submarine scandal, and waste of public funds." Zunar explained that the government controls all the newspapers and television and radio broadcasts, leaving no room for dissent. He said:"My aim is to use cartoons as a weapon to fight corruption and abuse of power by the Malaysian government. Through my cartoons, I highlight very important issues, which have not been reported in the government-controlled media." He urged everyone to fight injustice. “My philosophy is clear: in order to make an impact, we must do it to the fullest. My method is to criticize the most powerful leaders in the hardest ways. Why pinch when you can punch!"
