Zunar strongly denies Home Ministry’s allegations.
1. Referring to the news article in Malaysian dated 29th August 2009
which quotes the Home Minstry’s Corporate Communication Unit’s Head,
Jamilah Taib that Sepakat Efektif Sdn Bhd, a company that I own will
be charged for publishing material without a publishing license.
According to Jamilah, Sepakat Efektif will be charged under Section
5(2) (b) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 for
distribution unlicensed publications. If convicted, the penalties are
not more than 3 years prison or a fine not exceeding RM20,000.00 or
both. The statement by Jamilah refers to the publication of a Cartoon
magazine titled ‘Gedung Kartun’.
2. For the record, before the publication of the magazine, I made an
application to the Home Ministry to the Home Minstry for the
Publication Permit and all requirements and conditions to obtain the
permit had been fulfilled.
On the 3rd of August our Company had contacted Officers from the Home Ministry and we were informed that the permit had been approved and the hard copy of the Publication Permit would be ready for collectionon the 14th of August 2009. On the said date we went to collect the Publication Permit at the Home Ministry but were informed that the Permit was not ready. I then requested for the Permit number so that we could begin with production work on the understanding that when the magazine would be printed and distributed in 10 days time, the Permit would be ready.
We were given the Permit Number PP8541/08/2010(0282145) ISSN 1688-5398 by the officers on that day. I refute any allegations that Gedung Kartun is published with a false permit. The Home Ministry has made a serious accusation that implies that I made up the Permit Number PP8541/08/2010(0282145) ISSN 1688-5398.
3. I am bemused as to why the Publication Permit for Gedung Kartun is yet to be issued and instead a raid was conducted and they now want to charge me in court. Isn’t it better for them to issue the approved Permit as they informed to me and solve all matters?
4. As the approved Publication Permit can only be signed off by the
Home Minister, I shall request in writing to meet with the Home
Minister Dato’ Seri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein to get an explanation on
whether he did or not approve the permit number
PP8541/08/2010(0282145) ISSN 1688-5398 on or before the 14th of August 2009 for Gedung Kartun magazine as informed by Officers of the Home Ministry.
5. I will also like to question the increasing difficulty in obtaining
Publication Permits. What then is meant by the Prime Minister that the
media will be freer under his Administration? Is it that under
1Malaysia, works of art and the voices of cartoonists will be under a
tighter grip?
6. If drawing cartoons results with 3 years imprisonment, imagine the state of media freedom and freedom of expression in Malaysia.
7. I also urge for the draconian Printing Presses and Publication Act
1984 to be abolished.
Zunar
(Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque)
Political cartoonist, Gedung Kartun Editor
+6012 3058262
+603 22744931
1 September 2009
–Defend the rights of Cartoonists
–Pertahankan hak kartunis.
[...] Threatening 3 years imprisonment. Zunar retaliates with a press statement (read his full statement here). [...]
Cartoonists and 3 years imprisonment « *SUSAN LOONE’s Blog* - September 1, 2009 at 9:28 am |
Open and transparent government requires no censorship of the media -in any form.
Repressive and oppressive government can only survive by fully controlling all forms of the media.
Tony Bird - September 1, 2009 at 10:02 am |
JUSTICE ? JUSTICE ? JUSTICE ? In Malaysia ? Everyone knows what the police do when pro UMNO and BN supporters break the
law- no action. If there is a peaceful rally to protest against ISA,SEDITION ACT OR PRESS PUBLICATION ACT or CANDLE VIGIL then the police will immediately spring into action and show their brutality.Zunar has not done anything wrong.He couldn’t have got the printing permit no. out of thin air.What about UTUSAN ‘s many sensitive articles ?
Is there one law for some and another for others ? Now there is more like the cow head protest .No police action ?
The Home minister cannot hoodwink the people anymore.Who is going to be the good samaritan to save Malaysia from draconian laws ?
Subramanian - September 1, 2009 at 10:56 am |
This fellow has requested in writing to meet HM…
Incidentally, HM is going to meet residents of Sekyen 23, now famous for their ‘cow-head’…
http://takenotetakeheart.blogspot.com/2009/09/najib-altantuya-hisham-to-meet-section.html
Joshua - September 1, 2009 at 4:43 pm |
I wondered why many BN supporters, to be specific members of all the component parties,why are you still not see, hear and act on the unfair, unjust and double standard laws in Boleh Land or just pretending to be ignorant just because you got some treats and gifts. Remember that you, your children and grandchildren will pay for all the money pocketed by your corrupt leaders, don’t be naive or maybe you think you are not paying tax anyway. Can’t you open your eyes and see how they whack the rakyat’s money in the PKFZ scandal.
Big Cock - September 2, 2009 at 6:14 am |