He was cited by the Asian Correspondent yesterday as saying that the organisers could have made a conscious decision to minimise or exclude art that is critical from the festival.
Calling it a shame, Zunar was quoted as saying that although the showcases featured in the festival would be beautiful and enjoyed by their audiences, they would not go home and further think or debate about them.
“Art should be allowed to shape how society thinks,” he reportedly said.
He added that this was not the first time he had not been invited or had had invitations to festivals revoked because his cartoons were deemed “too controversial” or “too political”.
“I think it’s not fair to think that way. We should include all types of art that make an impact to society,” he was quoted as saying.
The festival organised by DiverseCity is supported by government bodies, including Tourism Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur City Hall and Kuala Lumpur Tourism Bureau, and several corporate sponsors.
It features over 50 music, dance, theatre, visual arts and literature events in more than 12 venues in and around Kuala Lumpur from Aug 31 to October 1.
The Asian Correspondent report said the most explicitly political show in the festival’s line-up appeared to be Songs of Lahore by Pakistan’s Sachal Ensemble which aimed to show that “Pakistanis are artists, not terrorists”.
It added that none of the items featured Zunar and graphic designer Fahmi Reza who was charged under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 in June last year for depicting Prime Minister Najib Razak as a clown.
Fahmi had also created a stir in April this year after he portrayed PAS president Hadi Awang as resembling an ape.
Zunar, who is no stranger to controversy over his satirical works mocking government leaders and top law enforcers, has been under an overseas travel ban by the government since June last year.
He also faces nine sedition charges for insulting the judiciary in tweets regarding former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy conviction in February 2015.
Zunar was also forced to cancel his exhibitions in Penang in November last year and July this year following intimidation by certain quarters.
On Aug 16 this year he sued the police and the government, claiming his arrest at a fundraising event at the Kuala Lumpur Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (KLSCAH) on Dec 17 last year was unlawful.
In his suit, Zunar said that his books and t-shirts were also seized without any basis at the event. Besides seeking damages, he also demanded the police and government return the 1,187 books and 103 pieces of t-shirts they had confiscated.