KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 20 — Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said today he will face Zunar in court, after the controversial cartoonist said he would file a legal challenge against the Inspector-General of Police’s order banning him from leaving the country.

The national police chief said he would have gladly explained the reason for the travel ban if the cartoonist whose real name is Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque had contacted him directly instead of publicising the issue.

"I don’t have to tell the world about what is the justification. If he had contacted me, I would be very happy to explain it to him, but since he has openly said he would challenge me, then go ahead, challenge me. I will wait for his challenge in court,” Khalid told reporters at the police training centre here.

"I would be very happy to explain to him if he had contacted me, but now since he would challenge me in court, go ahead. Challenge me in court,” he added.

The artist whose artwork frequently lampoons Malaysian politics and its personalities has vowed to challenge his no-fly status, claiming only a court of law could impose any travel ban.

Zunar cried foul after purportedly being told by an immigration official that the IGP had issued a travel ban on him since June 24.

Zunar said he only found out last Monday, when he was scheduled to be in Singapore for a talk.

The cartoonist is accused of making nine "seditious” tweets which, among others, alleged judicial bias and government intervention in PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s sodomy trial and conviction.

His trial is scheduled to begin November 22.