You can’t keep a good cartoonist down for long – especially one with a socio-political conscience. Three months after hundreds of copies of the inaugural issue of his Gedung Kartun magazine were confiscated, political humourist Zunar and his creative team are back with a brighter idea.

Photos by Zunar’s team – Click on icon at bottom right of box to toggle to full-screen slideshow mode

This time, they are launching an 80-page cartoon book titled Perak Darul Kartun focusing on the power grab and associated antics in Perak – which undoubtedly offer rich material for satire. Unlike a regular magazine, a book doesn’t require a publishing permit under existing laws.

Appropriately, ousted Perak Mentri Besar Nizar Jamaluddin is expected to launch the book, priced at RM10 with an initial print run of 10,000 copies, in KL this Sunday.

This is what the irrepressible Zunar has to say:

Continue reading »

 

It’s not just The Herald and Catholic Asian News that has come under the Home Ministry’s scrutiny.

Two books on Islam including one by the respected group Sisters in Islam (SIS) have been banned. The books were banned because they contained “twisted facts on Islam that can undermine the faith of Muslims”, according to a Bernama report.

I contacted Zainah Anwar of SIS and she told me the book “Muslim Women and the Challenge of Islamic Extremism” was an old one which has been out since 2005. According to her, it was actually a compilation of papers arising from a seminar among Muslim women’s groups from around the region and edited by Norani Othman, an experienced academic and researcher.

Continue reading »

 

Chia Loong Thye has responded to the launch of the book on Gerakan, explaining why he wanted to stop the event. He says he is all for non-sectarian politics “but why is it not possible to discuss this issue without the need to slander another person? My complaint against the authors is just that.”

Here is his statement in full:

My action to sue the authors of the book, Non-Sectarian Politics in Malaysia: The Case of Parti Gerakan Rakyat Malaysia, (“the Book”) for defamation may have caused some uneasiness amongst friends and those who are actively contributing to the political writings in this country.

Continue reading »