My name is Fahmi Reza. I’m a self-taught graphic designer and a political activist based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

In June of this year, a government investment fund, 1MDB, was at the centre of a political and financial controversy involving debts of nearly RM42 billion (US$11 billion). The Wall Street Journal had reported that Malaysian investigators scrutinising the 1MBD fund have traced nearly RM2.6 billion (US$700 million) of deposits into the personal bank accounts of Malaysia’s Prime Minister, Najib Razak.

As a response, on June 23rd I posted this drawing on Facebook, K is for koruptor (corruptor), a satirical illustration of the Prime Minister Najib Razak, along with the caption “Mari mewarna ABC! K untuk koruptor” (Let’s colour ABC! K is for corruptor).



The illustration generated 453 likes and 20 shares on Facebook.

Encouraged by the response, I posted a follow-up illustration the next day, D is for diktator (dictator) to poke fun at the former premier, Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, an authoritarian and corrupt leader himself, who had suddenly appeared as a harsh critic against 1MDB and Najib Razak.



The illustration generated 752 likes and 55 shares on Facebook.

These two initial pictures became the impetus to a complete series of an A-to-Z illustrations of infamous Malaysian politicians which I had dubbed #ABCpolitikusMalaysia (ABC of Malaysian Politicians).







For the next 24 alphabets and characters, I began crowdsourcing ideas on Facebook for words to be attached to politicians that I had selected. The comments, ideas and contributions that I received on Facebook was overwhelming. I couldn't have done this whole thing without the support of my Facebook friends.


I started posting one illustration per day on Facebook to be added to the A-to-Z list. Most of these illustrations can be seen as a critique, and to poke fun at the hypocrisy and absurdity of our so-called political representatives.

As the list started growing, there were requests from my Facebook friends to compile the illustrations that I’ve posted into an actual satirical colouring book.

In a country where cartoonists and satirists have been censored, arrested and incarcerated for their art, it is important that this vital form of artistic expression - parody and satire as a form of political protest - is continued to be practiced and to be defended at all costs.

By pledging towards this project, you will have the opportunity to get yourself a copy of the 1st edition of this subversively funny 36-page one-of-a-kind colouring book for adults!

The project will fund 500 copies, 10"x10", 36 page book of original illustrations, printed on 140 gsm paper with a full colour softback front and back cover.

Here's the breakdown on how the money will be spent:

RM 2,500 will be spent on printing 500 copies of ABC Politikus Malaysia colouring book.

RM 3,000 will be spent on packaging and shipping the books to you (by Pos Laju Malaysia).

RM 275 will be spent on Pozible 5% service fee.

I'm aiming for the books to be printed and delivered before the end of this month (August 2015). My biggest worry is that I will not be able to meet my funding goal in the limited time frame.