Title: “Fahmi Reza Faces Bukit Aman in 2024 Over Satirical Artwork Allegedly Insulting Musa Aman”

Source: SAYS

Article:
Malaysia’s iconic political satirist, Fahmi Reza, kicked off 2024 with what he cheekily referred to as his “first date” with the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) at Bukit Aman. The encounter, which took place this morning, stemmed from allegations linked to his latest provocative artwork.

Fahmi made the announcement on his X (formerly Twitter) account yesterday (18 December), accompanied by a satirical illustration, underscoring his ongoing clashes with the authorities.

What sparked the investigation?

In his post, Fahmi revealed that he is being investigated under multiple laws, including:

• Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act: Addressing seditious tendencies such as uttering, printing, or publishing seditious content.
• Section 233 of the Multimedia Communications Act: Penalizing online communications deemed false, threatening, or offensive.
• Section 504 of the Penal Code: Concerning intentional insults meant to provoke breaches of peace.

The penalties range from fines up to RM50,000, imprisonment of up to a year, or both.

Who was targeted in his satire?

Fahmi recently shared a caricature of Sabah’s newly-appointed governor, Tun Musa Aman, branding him “Koruptor No. 1 Sabah.” The caricature was paired with a screenshot of a Malaysia Kini article announcing Musa’s appointment.

Musa, a former chief minister of Sabah, has faced corruption allegations in the past. This artwork allegedly crossed legal lines, sparking the current investigation.

Fahmi Reza’s resilience amidst challenges

Interestingly, this latest brush with the law coincides with another recent controversy involving Fahmi. On 16 December, his TikTok account was permanently banned during a livestream of his “Student Power” lecture at Universiti Malaya.

While many speculated that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was behind the ban, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil clarified that the agency had no involvement. The account was reinstated yesterday.Despite these hurdles, Fahmi remains steadfast, emphasizing his belief that satire is not a crime. His story continues to ignite discussions on freedom of speech and artistic expression in Malaysia.