On 27 November 2016, Malaysian cartoonist Zunar was released a day after his arrest in George Town under the Sedition Act. The following is a press statement from festival director Bernice Chauly on behalf of the George Town Literary Festival in response to his release.
On 26 November 2016, Malaysian cartoonist Zunar was arrested under the Sedition Act, a day after UMNO Youth members displayed violent behaviour at his exhibition in KOMTAR. The following is George Town Literary Festival’s official statement in regards to the incident.
LAUNCHING the sixth annual George Town Literary Festival (GTLF) last night at Black Kettle, Chief Minister of Penang Lim Guan Eng passionately expressed his disapproval of the “thugs and hooligans” who derailed an exhibition featuring local cartoonist Zunar in the afternoon. His speech however quickly turned into a rousing call for action to continue pursuing a freer, more united Malaysia.
LITERARY festivals don’t get the kind of attention they once garnered from Malaysian media — take for instance George Town Literary Festival (GTLF). Opening in three weeks, the annual congregation is a star-studded affair graced by some of the world’s brightest thinkers.