Putrajaya’s ‘Thorn in Najb’s side’ has consumed more in-flight meals than the average Malaysian journalist, logged more air-miles than a former tourism minister, and broken Malaysian records with his staggering nine charges for sedition.

Currently in London for some public engagements, Zunar will return to Malaysia and face trial on Nov 6 for tweets made last February which criticised the conviction of former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim. If convicted, Zunar will be released when he is 96 years old.

Being in England is particularly galling. Like a man fighting against time, Zunar has a rigorous schedule of talks, interviews and live drawing sessions to publicise his case.

The irony is that the nine charges come under the 1948 Sedition Act (Akta Hasutan 1948). This act is part of our colonial legacy and was created in 1948 to control opposition to British rule.

Today, Britain has moved on, but Umno Baru has retained this Act to stifle its critics which include cartoonists, lawyers, journalists, engineers, students, activists and opposition politicians.

When he flew into Heathrow and was interviewed by MonsoonsMedia, Zunar dismissed talk of exile, and said, “Some of my overseas friends and fans have suggested I seek asylum. Rest assured. I will not run away.

“I am afraid, just like anyone else, but despite my fears, I have a responsibility. I will not choose asylum.”

Why he rejects asylum

Zunar once said that laughter is the best form of protest. Here are some reasons for rejecting asylum.

A tropical animal: Zunar has visited countries where 2m snowdrifts and blizzards are commonplace. He hates the cold. In Malaysia, he will say that it is freezing when temperatures dip at night to 24 degrees Centigrade.

Food: Zunar’s favourite foods are rice and curry, or roti canai. Malaysian curries are not the same as Indian curries. A plate of curry is £7 or RM49 in London. Plain rice is £2.50 (RM17.50). A plate of two roti canai and a small bowl of curry costs about RM49, before service tax.

On a recent trip to Zurich he moaned about the RM80 burger from a fast food chain. If Zunar converts the cost of his meal into ringgits, it will drive away his appetite. So he has to grin and bear the price.

Transport: Although Zunar can drive, he prefers going by taxi in Malaysia. Like most journalists, he treasures the opinions of taxi drivers. A hundred-metre journey by London’s black cab may cost Zunar a whopping £10 (RM70). Anyone who does not tip the driver, usually at 10 percent of the ride, will be verbally abused.

Celebrity status: The British police would not entertain calls to raid his home or office if Zunar were to draw some ‘controversial’ cartoons. The inspector-general of police (IGP) of Malaysia has been instrumental in Zunar’s international success. When Zunar’s office was raided and he was paraded in purple prison garb, the whole world knew.

Job creation: Zunar received nine charges of sedition, as a result of his tweets. A few hours after the conviction of Anwar in Sodomy II, the IGP arrested Zunar for his tweet which criticised the judiciary. Zunar is a prolific tweeter. The IGP has 126,000 policemen monitoring tweets. Both Zunar and the IGP are essential for job creation.

Keeping busy: Zunar’s tweets provide the IGP with a hobby. If Zunar lived overseas, the number of assaults by police, may increase.

Zunar’s inspiration: During World War Two, battle-weary American and British soldiers stuck posters of curvy starlets like Betty Grable and Rita Hayworth on their lockers to boost their morale and lift their spirits. Zunar has claimed that the inspiration for his work, is the self-styled First Lady of Malaysia, (Flom), with her curves and bouffant hairdo.

A long-distance relationship will never work. Zunar's works would suffer without his ‘pin-up girl’. He cannot go into exile because he will be deprived of his muse.

Spirit of 1Malaysia: ‘Indian ink’ was first invented in China in 220-265 AD. The Chinese coined the phrase, because the carbon pigment, in Indian ink, came from India. ‘Chinese ink’, or inksticks, date back to the 12th century and are made from plant dyes and soot.

Zunar is a trained chemist. He may lampoon Najib Abdul Razak in his drawings, but he values Najib’s ‘1Malaysia’ soundbite. It is believed that Zunar is working on a secret formula to produce ‘Malay ink’. He cannot leave Malaysia until he has patented this ink.

Zunar’s drawings mock Najib and Flom. In Malaysia, his books are banned, his offices have been raided and his tweets monitored. He tweeted that the judges who convicted Anwar are tainted. So, will Zunar have a fair hearing, on Nov 6?

If he were to claim asylum and draw in London, Zunar’s chances of being brought to trial would probably be zero; but if he were tried in an English court, there would be lorryloads of evidence, provided by human rights organisations and opposition politicians, to help him win his case.

Perhaps, Zunar should claim asylum, after all. Rosmah Mansor would happily commit him to an asylum.

MARIAM MOKHTAR is a defender of the truth, the admiral-general of the Green Bean Army and president of the Perak Liberation Organisation (PLO).