Satire is seditious?
September 30, 2010
www.malaysiakini.com
Satire is seditious?, ask International Press Freedom Advocacy Groups
International press freedom advocacy groups have expressed shock that cartoons and satire in Malaysia can lead its ‘perpetrators’ to being slapped with sedition or other criminal charges and prosecution.
The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), citing the prosecution of blogger ‘Hassan Skodeng’ as well as the more recent police actions against cartoonist Zunar, noted that “sedition charges in Malaysia are often used to suppress press criticism.”
Hassan Skodeng, whose real name is Irwan Abdul Rahman, was charged after posting a blog piece poking fun at power firm Tenaga Nasional Bhd with acting with “intent to hurt”.
Condemning Zunar’s arrest during the weeked over his publication “Cartoon-o-phobia” and the seizure of his works, CPJ called on the Malaysian authorities to “stop harassing” the political cartoonist” and drop the sedition charge against him.
“The arrest of a cartoonist is inconsistent with Prime Minister Najib (Abdul Razak)’s vow on taking office that he would uphold, not suppress, press freedom,” said CPJ senior Southeast Asia representative Shawn W Crispin in a statement from Bangkok.
Crispin was referring to Najib’s call upon taking office in 2009 for the media not to be afraid of criticising the government and pointing out its shortcomings.
Zunar’s drawings often tackle sensitive issues, including the ongoing sodomy trial of Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and the perceived influence of Najib’s wife Rosmah Mansor over his decisions.
Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein had said the arrest was related to cartoons that touched on the legal system and the ‘Allah’ issue.
Three of Zunar’s previous volumes of cartoons were banned by the home ministry in June under the Printing Presses and Publications Act.
In the Indian sub-continent, the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) also expressed concern over Zunar’s arrest and the seizure of his books.
Its secretary-general Owais Aslam Ali called for the Malaysian government to release Zunar from all charges as well as to abolish the Sedition Act 1948 “and other outdated, draconian legislation that seek to control (freedom of) expression.”
“As long as these laws exist, they will continue to be open to abuse by the government of the day as a means to curtail legitimate criticism,” said Owais.
“Amid a climate of increased intolerance on the part of the authorities, it is highly likely that Zunar’s latest book will be banned, too,” he added.
The Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF), meanwhile, also said it was “distrubed by the repressive nature of the sedition investigation” against Zunar and “firmly” condemned his arrest and the police’ search for his books in Malaysiakini and its publishers and distributors.
It also urge Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak the subject of some of his (Zunar) cartoons, to intervene to ensure that the police investigation into Zunar, this book and his publishing house is abandoned.
“It would be very alarming for media freedom in Malaysia if press cartoons were to be threatened in this manner,” said RSF’s Asia-Pacific desk chief Vincent Brossel. “How can a book of cartoons be seditious?” he asked.
“Zunar’s cartoons may sometimes be very cutting in their portrayal of Malaysian political life, and especially the ruling party, but they cannot in any way be regarded as seditious. It would be very alarming for media freedom in Malaysia if press cartoons were to be threatened in this manner,” Brossel added.
hahaha… why is everything considered seditious by UMNO-BN? Are their so-called YBs so afraid of everything and become over sensitive now? Why do they treat the rakyats as their political enemies and everything comes out from their mouths considered seditious when it is not in favour of the government?
prihatin - September 30, 2010 at 9:49 pm
“International press freedom advocacy groups have expressed shock that cartoons and satire in Malaysia can lead its ‘perpetrators’ to being slapped with sedition or other criminal charges and prosecution.”
If they are truly shocked then they do not know what Malaysia is all about. If they do not know anything about Malaysia then perhaps they should not be commenting. It is journalism. And journalism in democracies has been touted as the Fourth Estate rather than for the state. It is about power and not for power.
If they think Malaysia’s constitution guarantees free speech without more, they should have another look. Because it does not.
Malaysian cartoonists know that overstepping the boundary of fair comment into the realm of the seditious carry with it consequences. So this is just another attempt by free speech advocates to test the waters, to probe to see if the boundaries of ‘free speech’ have moved. Clearly they have not.
Mr Bean - September 30, 2010 at 10:09 pm
Ini UMNO Govt tak faham semua objection dari negara asing in English. Nak protest, please in Bahasa Malaysia.
Where are you, PHD, tak percaya senidri punya thesis, UMNO kaki?
aca - October 1, 2010 at 12:05 am
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