Now, activist Fahmi Reza clowns with Dr Mahathir’s oust-Najib movement

Activist and graphic designer Fahmi Reza's latest satirical poster features clown caricatures of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad along with the politicians and activists in yesterday's "Citizens' Declaration", similar to the one he had posted of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in January which attracted police attention.  This time, the graphic depicts a group of hand-holding leaders who bear a striking resemblance to Dr Mahathir and others such as Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin after their press conference announcing their common agenda to remove Najib from office. The words in the poster read "Kita semua hipokrit, selamatkan Malaysia" (We are all hypocrites, save Malaysia). Since being uploaded on his Facebook page yesterday, the poster has been widely circulated and has garnered more than 4,000 likes. In a posting today, Fahmi said his artworks was meant to draw attention to the absurdity of the country's leaders and political situation, which he felt deserved laughter. "But the public knows that there is a considerable degree of truth behind the humour, behind the satire. "I believe that dissent and disobedience are important in a democracy. "Especially disobedience to corrupt leaders and politicians. "I view the kind of art and satire that I make as a tool to raise awareness, to wake people up, as a medium of protest, as a tool to push for change in Malaysia. "When it comes to politicians, my general rule is: do not trust politicians, no matter what party they belong to, no matter how great they may seem. It's all just a show," he said. Fahmi was called up by police after producing his first clown poster depicting Najib with the caption, "In 2015, the Sedition Act was used 91 times. Tapi dalam negara yang penuh dengan korupsi, kita semua penghasut" (but in a country that is full of corruption, we are all seditious). The poster was in response to the attorney-general's decision to close investigations into the RM2.6 billion found in Najib's personal bank accounts. The newly-set up Twitter account for the police Cyber Investigation Response Centre (@OfficialPcirc) later warned him that he was being watched. Fahmi is being investigated under the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act and the Penal Code. – March 5, 2016.]]>