What’s wrong in criticising Najib, asks activist Fahmi Reza

Activist and graphic designer Fahmi Reza informed police today that he had no intention of defaming Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the rendition of the clown image was just a form of criticism against the leader. Fahmi gave a statement to the police at the Dang Wangi police headquarters today, after his drawing of Najib as a clown – which was part of a campaign against the Sedition Act – received flak from various quarters. Tomorrow he is scheduled to be interviewed by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in Cyberjaya over what is believed to be over another artwork. "I have answered all the questions they asked. There were many questions, including about my intention of drawing the caricature and who had uploaded it on Facebook and Twitter. "I told them I was the one who did it," said Fahmi, who arrived at the station about 4.10pm and spent almost two hours answering questions from police and officers from the MCMC. "I have no intention to defame the prime minister. It was a form of criticism, to portray what is happening in the country and... what is wrong in criticising a prime minister?" said Fahmi. Fahmi was currently being investigated under Section 233 of MCMC Act and Section 504 of the Penal Code. He said despite authorities' action against him, Fahmi said he would continue to draw satirical works on Malaysian leaders. "I will continue doing what I am doing, drawing satirical posters of our politicians and leaders if they mess up," added Fahmi. During the two-hour session, he said MCMC officers even asked for his social media account's username and password, to which he refused. "They have the right to do so under the law but I told them it was private, but I have no problem in letting them check the contents on the condition that I have to be present. "I don't want them to go through items that were not related to the case," he said. Fahmi's artwork had inspired other clown images to pop up on social media recently with the hashtag #KitaSemuaPenghasut (we are all seditious). The clown images of Najib gained prominence not long after Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali said there was insufficient evidence to implicate the prime minister in investigations into SRC International Sdn Bhd and the RM2.6 billion being donated into his personal bank accounts in 2013. – February 28, 2016.]]>