New hopes for freedom of expression
S.M. Anwarul Haque, better known as Zunar to Malaysians, is perhaps the most heralded and harassed political cartoonist in the country.
Zunar is well known in the country and abroad for his editorial cartoons and his satirical works that he has presented and published over the past three decades or so — more recently, despite he, and even some of his professional associates, being subjected to threats, raids, bans, restrictions and incarcerations under the previous government.
His works are closely followed by large sections of the Malaysian public. His accolades include being the recipient of the prestigious Swiss Foundation Cartooning for Peace Award 2016, presented by the late Kofi Annan, the former secretary-general of the United Nations.
In his award acceptance speech, Zunar said: “Talent is not a gift, but a responsibility. It is a duty for me as a cartoonist to use the art as a weapon to fight unjust rulers. Fear and intimidation are the potent tools being used by the regime to scare the people. I believe strokes of art can lead the people to cross the line of fear.”
It is important to recognise that political cartoons, including caricatures, that have a worldwide history of almost two centuries, are made for the purpose of conveying editorial commentary on politics, politicians and current events.
Such presentations play a role in the political discourse of society, especially providing freedom of speech and expression and of the press.
Zunar stands head-to-head with the world’s best past and contemporary political cartoonists. Among them are Thomas Nast, often praised as “the father of the American cartoon”; British caricaturist and printmaker James Gillray; R.K. Laxman, Indian cartoonist, illustrator and humorist; Chinese political cartoonist Wang Liming, better known under the pseudonym Rebel Pepper; and, assassinated Palestinian political cartoonist, Naji Salim Hussain al-Ali, probably the best-known cartoonist in the Arab world.
With Malaysia’s new government, hopes for a new era of free speech are high with more space for freedom of expression, especially for artists like Zunar.