Cartoonist Zunar remanded for one day

http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/cartoonist-zunar-remanded-for-one-day/

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 25 — Political satirist Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, who was arrested under the Sedition Act yesterday, has been remanded for one day.

The remand order was issued by the Sepang Magistrate Court this morning, said his lawyer Latheefa Koya.

She also claimed that there was confusion over the arrest.

“At arrest time, they said sedition, when making report it was changed to Printing Presses and Publications Act, but finally in Sepang last night, the investigating officer said sedition but did not say which section,” Latheefa told The Malaysian Insider.

Another Zulkiflee’s lawyer Murnie Hidayah Anuar claimed that the remand order was issued by Magistrate Zulhelmy Hassan without the presence of the cartoonist’s lawyers.

“Magistrate proceeded with remand hearing and gave one day remand without the presence of lawyers even though she has been informed that the lawyers are on their way,” said Murnie.

“The magistrate is in clear breach of Article 5 of the constitution which guarantees right to legal representation,” she added.

Police yesterday raided Zulkiflee’s (picture) office in Brickfields and seized copies of his new book titled, Cartoon-o-phobia.

The raid came several hours before the planned launch of the book, which was officiated by the ousted Perak Pakatan Rakyat menteri besar Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin.

Known more popularly as Zunar, he has had three other books — 1 Funny Malaysia, Perak Darul Kartun and Isu Dalam Kartun — banned by the Home Ministry.