Press Statement
10 February 2010
Is Altantuya A Forbidden Issue?
1. I condemn the action by the police and officers from the
Home Ministry who confiscated my book, "1 Funny Malaysia" from
bookstores in Penang, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and Kuala Lumpur
recently. According to news report, the raids were carried out under
Section 18 of Printing Press and Publications Act.
2.
For the record, the book was in market since November last year, and
most of my work in the book had been published on Malaysiakini.
3.
This is my second book to be confiscated in recent months. August last
year, my office in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur was raided by eight
officers from the Home Ministry and 408 copies of the inaugural issue
of my cartoon magazine, Gedung Kartun (Cartoon Store) were seized. 
4.
On the next day, the Home Ministry officers raided the factory that
printed Gedung Kartun magazine and seized 18 printing plates of the
magazine.
The statement:
1. What is the similarity
between these two publications? Both touched Altantuya Issue. The front
cover of Gedung Kartun shows a drawing of the Prime Minister holding
the Mongolia flag, the country which Altantuya was from; where as front
cover of "1 Funny Malaysia" shows the Prime Minister riding a
sub-marine which was re-named KD Altantuya, after the Mongolian.
2.
This high profile murder case is the most talked-about issue in
Malaysia. Even though two low ranking officers were convicted by court,
public opinion still presumes the involvement of a high ranking
politician.
3. As a cartoonist, it is my duty to
highlight current issues in my cartoons that are in line of people's
aspiration. It has been my cartooning philosophy to tell the truth and
give correct information through my work.
4. Is it
wrong to be telling the truth or opinion through cartoons? Does this
mean that the Altantuya issue is forbidden in Malaysia? Is there
anything to hide?
5. Based on these circumstances, I
firmly believe that the action is purely politically motivated. I am
sure there will be no action taken if the content is siding with the
ruling party.
6. It is also a total violation of press freedom, freedom of expression and the principles of democracy.
7. I hereby condemn the action by the Home Ministry and the police, and urge them to return the confiscated copies.
8.
As a cartoonist, I will not stop exposing the wrongdoings of the
authority. In fact I have just released a new cartoon book called
“Sumpah di Bumi Komisen” which highlighted the same issues albeit in a
different light.
Zunar
(Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque)
Political cartoonist, Editor
012 3058262
03 22744931
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