KUALA LUMPUR – Cartoonist Zunar has called for a clearer legal interpretation of the Communications and Multimedia (Amendment) Bill 2024, particularly regarding the recognition of satire and parody.
Zunar, whose real name is Zukiflee Anwar Haque, acknowledged that while the amendments represent a positive step, further clarification is needed on how online content will be legally interpreted.
“To comment further, we need to see the entire Bill. However, as it stands now, it’s just a general interpretation.
“If the amendments to this Bill are said to recognise satire and parody, we can say that’s true.
“But (so far) there’s nothing more specific about that interpretation, and it hasn’t been debated in Parliament yet, so that’s something we need to look at.
“Because now it’s the multimedia age, people are doing all sorts of things, for example using artificial intelligence (AI) or (misusing it), so how is the legal interpretation going to be, that’s why we need to look at the entire Bill first,” he told Scoop.
Zunar, alongside fellow cartoonist Fahmi Reza, has frequently faced charges under the Sedition Act.
In 2016, Zunar was arrested under Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 41C of the Sedition Act for hosting a cartoon exhibition deemed insulting to then-Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in Komtar, Penang.
His remarks followed a statement by Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan who spoke on the Bill, introduced in Parliament the previous day.
The Bill proposes significant changes to the legal interpretation of online content, including the recognition of satire and parody.
Syahredzan described the amendment as a positive step by the government to protect creative expression and criticism.
He highlighted Clause 91, which provides a new definition to clarify terms such as obscene, indecent, false, threatening, and offensive.
“The description states that content in the form of satire or parody or that is clearly fictional cannot be considered false, and if passed, this will provide better protection for art and criticism,” he said.
Syahredzan emphasised that recognising satire and parody is an essential move to ensure continued freedom of speech in Malaysia.
The Communications and Multimedia (Amendment) Bill 2024 is expected to be debated in detail in Parliament soon. – December 4, 2024