Political satirist arrested again for criticising the Malaysian government

A popular Malaysian cartoonist has once again been arrested for sedition, prompted by his political drawings that satirise prime minister Najib Razak.

Cartoonist Zulkifli Anwar Ulhaque, better known as "Zunar", was arrested on Saturday in Penang, where he was speaking at the George Town Literary Festival.

Event organisers and human rights groups have condemned the arrest.

Police said he will be investigated under the country's Sedition Act, and also under a law that prohibits humiliating a person with intention, local papers reported.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

Zunar has been an outspoken critic of the government, and has focused his energies on the ongoing corruption scandal surrounding Najib. A paper trail has allegedly linked the prime minister's personal accounts with billions in donations.

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This is hardly Zunar's first brush with the law.

The artist has been arrested on multiple occasions in the past, and police last year raided his office and confiscated copies of his book, which contain more of his satirical drawings.

Naturally, Zunar had a cartoon for his travel ban in October:

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One of many critics arrested

Zunar is one of dozens of government critics and activists that have been arrested in recent years in Malaysia.

The day before a huge political rally, Bersih 5.0, its key organiser Maria Chin Abdullah was placed in detention -- a move that supporters say was aimed at obstructing the protest.

She remains in solitary confinement.

Here's what Zunar tweeted after Chin Abdullah's arrest:

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Reacting to Zunar's arrest, the literary festival organisers posted a note condemning the "act of repression which is contrary to the spirit of free speech and expression."

Amnesty International posted a statement characterising the arrest as an "outrage."

"What we are seeing is the choking of dissent in Malaysia, where repressive laws are being used to silence and punish peaceful voices under the guise of national security," said Josef Benedict, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Southeast Asia and the Pacific.

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