Not taking sides in politics is one way of taking sides.

These are the words of wisdom from Zulkiflee Anwar Haque, arguably the only political cartoonist in Malaysia who has no qualms about crossing the line.

"If you're not taking sides, then more often than not, you're siding with a crook," he added when met a caf in Kuala Lumpur recently to talk about the launching of his new book.

Zulkiflee, popularly known as Zunar, said he researches thoroughly before committing his ideas to paper. "I sketch with my heart, and draw with my brain," he explains.

His cartoons have raised many eyebrows, even among the opposition, for its attacks against ruling Barisan Nasional politicians.

His latest offering 'Cartoons of Tun... And Others' is testimony to how unforgiving he can be. (Tun denotes the honorific title of Dr Mahathir Mohamad).

Zunar, who hails from Kedah, said his artistic streak began early in life when he started drawing on the bathroom walls in his school.

His first break came in 1972, when the then 10-year-old cartoonist's works appeared in a magazine for children called Bambino.

But his works today are more adult in nature and contain strong messages.

'Pig' mistake?

In June 2003, Zunar found himself in the spotlight over a cartoon that depicted Mahathir as a pig which was published in the PAS organ Harakah.

Given that PAS is an Islamic party and that Muslims generally regard the pig with the utmost opprobrium, one might expect the 44-year old artist to sigh with the wisdom of hindsight and admit to having gone overboard.

Even PAS, not prone to apologising, did so and retracted the offending carton.

But Zunar remained unapologetic. "No! There is nothing to say sorry for," he said.

According to him, since numerous reports of the Sars epidemic then claimed the disease originated from pig farms and Mahathir at the same time had angered the public over the crack down on community-funded religious schools or Sekolah Agama Rakyat (SAR), there was not much space to have made the comparison differently.

"It's only unfortunate, and coincidental, that the animal happened to be a kind that people are sensitive about," he shrugged.

"If Sars was caused by horses, I would have drawn him as a horse. Or a kangaroo," he said.

It was just a comparison between the features of pigs and people being disgusted with Mahathir's actions, he explained further.

"It's a play on words. It's also a question of the use of analogy ... I didn't say he was a pig," insisted Zunar, with the unmistakable twinkle of mischief in his eyes.

"My only regret was that the particular cartoon and that particular issue left very little room for any other interpretation," he said.

Criticising the opposition

Zunar then trained his crosshairs on the media for attacking him over the issue.

"Of all the news reports that attacked me at the time, not one of them consulted art experts or artists. Not one of them asked me for my side of the story.

"People can attack me. That's no problem, because I myself criticise people in my work. But do give me the opportunity to respond," he said.

What about criticisms of opposition parties and politicians? Why are his cartoons almost completely one-sided?

Zunar denies this. He points to a piece in his latest compilation which mocks Parti Keadilan Rakyat adviser Anwar Ibrahim for having toned down.

Anwar is shown in 1974 calling for 'demonstrasi' (demonstrations), in 1986 calling for 'demokrasi' (democracy), in 1998 calling for 'reformasi' (reformation) and in 2004, he says: 'Wait and see...'

"This shows that I can criticise even the opposition," stressed Zunar.

Injustices and corruption

Zunar, who also contributes regularly to malaysiakini, said like journalists, cartoonists also have a responsibility to speak out against injustices and corruption in all forms.

"In a contest between two uneven opponents - one a giant such as BN with all the government machineries at its disposal, the other a tiny player with all the odds stacked against him - being strictly fair is not actually being just.

"Cartoonists have to criticise those in power, and criticise to the fullest, because they were picked by the people. You don't criticise those whose homes have been demolished, you criticise the ones who do the demolishing," he said.

"One day, when the field has been levelled, and the press is truly open, then it would be fair and just to criticise both the ruling and opposition," he said reassuringly.

"When that happens, or if PKR comes to power, I'll be the first to criticise," added the editor of the PKR organ, Seruan Keadilan.

Zunar's book will launched at the Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall in Kuala Lumpur at 8pm tomorrow with Anwar among the special guests. Click here for more information.