Malaysia's Cartoonish Politics

Fahmi Reza is just a little too talented for his own good. Or maybe he caught the political mood at the worst possible moment.Ahead of elections later this year, this Malaysian artist and activist was sentenced to jail time and a fine this week following charges that he inked a cartoon that featured Prime Minister Najib Razak in clown makeup. The image went viral during recent protests. Mr. Fahmi’s lawyer says a stay was granted that will keep his client out of jail pending appeal, but he must still pay a fine of RM30,000 (about $7,662). The official charge is posting an image online that is “obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person.”