Portal accused of misusing art

(The Star) – The creators of an art project that featured merchandise with designs offering a tongue-in-cheek look at Malaysia do not find it funny that their work has been exploited by a news portal for political mileage.

They accused Keadilan Daily of misleading the people and want the website to issue a public apology to the merchandise creators as well as to the public.

The website had, on Sept 24, published an article in which it alleged a school exercise book with the caricature of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was being distributed in schools.

The article, quoting Rembau PKR chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin better known as Chegubard criticised the move and likened it to former Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak displaying his image before his downfall.

The article has since been removed from the site.

Refuting claims in the article, June Low, 27, said she and graphic artist Adila Abdul Malik, 25, had come up with the idea of a Malaysia-themed artwork and merchandise for the Art for Grabs event at the Annexe Gallery in Central Market on Sept 22.

The theme of the event was Janji Ditutupi, a play on the Government’s Merdeka Day theme Janji Ditepati.

“We displayed a range of comedic art merchandise.

“Items included a school exercise book, with the cover bearing a likeness to the PM and the 1Malaysia logo,” she told news portal Malaysian Digest yesterday.

Low said their intention was to amuse and share a laugh with others and those who visited the event were aware of the attempt at light-hearted humour in the current affairs of Malaysia.

Low said she was shocked that a photo of the book cover on her Twitter account was used by Keadilan Daily in an article.

She said: “To twist the truth to this extent without fact-checking is disgusting.

“It is simply irresponsible journalism.”

Keadilan Daily could not be contacted for comment.