THE Malaysian government has acted excessively against cartoonist Zulkiflee Anwar Haque. His works criticizing the government have often been banned and he has been frequently arrested, the last time on charges which carry a 43-year sentence.

Zulkiflee's political cartoons should be seen as criticism, not threats to destroy the government. Zunar, as the artist is better known, is indeed different from his fellow Malaysian cartoonists, such as Moh