Hear the one about the Malaysian cartoonist who tried to sue the government?
Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, better-known among comic fans as Zunar, is still trying to figure out the punch line. As the government in Kuala Lumpur begins to ease decades of strict political control, Mr. Zulkiflee is stepping up his yearlong battle to lift a ban on his comic books that he says shows the limits of Prime Minister Najib Razak's new, high-profile program to bolster free speech and strengthen political rights in this resource-rich, majority-Muslim nation.
Typical gags revolve around Mr. Najib's wife, Rosmah Mansor, secretly dictating everything that happens in the country. Others poke fun at shadowy politicians tearing up blueprints to bring down the cost of living to focus instead on bringing down their political rivals—tame fare for audiences in the U.S. or Britain, perhaps, but a radical departure from the norm in Malaysia.
"Mr. Najib isn't removing the sedition laws, which can also be used to stop political comment," Mr. Zulkiflee said, referring to rules that criminalize alleged attempts to stir up dissatisfaction with the government.
"People who want to publish newspapers or maybe even cartoons still have to apply for permission, too," he said. It's all a public-relations stunt."
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