LIVID over the arrest of satirist Fahmi Reza, a human rights non-governmental organisation (NGO) claimed that the Government was using heavy-handed tactic to silence critics.
“This is totally unnecessary as Fahmi has cooperated with police investigations. This is a mark on how a failing Government is trying to undermine legitimate criticism,” Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy told FocusM.
Last night, the police arrested Fahmi for his jealousy-theme Spotify playlist, which was claimed to be insulting to the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Hajah Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
The playlist featured 101 English and Malay songs by various artists, nearly all centred on jealousy.
Bukit Aman CID chief Datuk Huzir Mohamed confirmed that Fahmi was being probed under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.
As of now, the police have brought Fahmi to a magistrate get a remand order and about 20 activists are gathered outside the Dang Wangi district police headquarters in solidarity of the satirist.
Touching on the matter, Sevan said it was ridiculous for the police to seek a remand on Fahmi as he has been cooperative in the investigation.
“The police sent a team to arrest Fahmi at about 6pm yesterday. So, why seek a remand against him when you have 24 hours to record his statement?
“Plus, with COVID-19 cases at detention centres, why the need to put more people inside? I really hope the magistrate will look into these details,” he stated.
The Suaram leader then urged the police to focus their resources on COVID-19 and crime-busting, instead of targetting those who are just voicing out the people’s frustration.
Establishment getting too sensitive!
“Political satire in a form of expression, which is protected under Article 8 of the Federal Constitution,” he noted.
On related matter, the CSO Cluster on Freedom of Expression (FOE Cluster) said the arrest was unwarranted and disproportionate; demonstrating the Government’s persistent heavy-handed response to any form of criticism against the establishment.
“It also demonstrates the wide and arbitrary nature of the Sedition Act, which is long overdue for repeal. Section 233 of the CMA is equally defective, as it makes it an offence to post offensive content with the intention to annoy.
“These disproportionate and overly wide restrictions on the freedom of expression make them open to selective prosecution and abuse,” it opined.
The NGO added that satire plays an important role in society as a space for commentary, discussion and debate on shared values.
Political satire in particular, plays an important role to engage with institutional power in a way that creates space for humour.
“And such a space should be defended as a vital part of public participation, to enable a robust civic discourse and healthy democracy that is able to withstand critique and differing opinions,” it stressed.
“In an update, the magistrate, who appeared at the Dang Wangi IPD, instructed the police to release Fahmi by 6pm today” – April 24, 2021
