The Crackhouse Comedy Club has supported authorities taking action against a woman who allegedly insulted Islam during an open-mic performance at its venue.
However, the comedy club, and comedians in support of it, said that punishment should not extend to the venue and business.
"We herewith urge the authorities to take stern action against the individual for any breach of the law, without penalising Crackhouse Comedy Club who had no part to play in this individual's actions, and was caught by surprise by the said action," it said in a statement.
The statement was signed by Crackhouse's co-founders Rizal Van Geyzel (above) and Shankar R Santhiram along with 15 comedians.
They said Kuala Lumpur City Hall's move to temporarily shut down the premises was heavy handed and without due process.
They said they understood the need to carry out investigations after a woman's performance during an open mic night caused an uproar, but it was unfair to seal the club without prior written notice.
This is especially as the club has been fully cooperative with authorities
The woman and her boyfriend have been arrested and will be charged in court soon.
The full statement is as follows:
On July 11, the Crackhouse Comedy Club was sealed without prior written notice given to the management.
We, the undersigned, accept that the authorities have to investigate the actions of an individual who attended the Crackhouse Comedy Club to perform.
However, the said individual committed an unacceptable act during the purported performance and the said performance was recorded and released by the individual on her own social media accounts, without the knowledge and or permission of the Crackhouse Comedy Club.
This is an act of sabotage.
The Crackhouse Comedy Club's reputation has been damaged by this person who appears to have her own agenda. The club was neither party to this nor did the management condone it.
It is a standard operating procedure in all comedy venues to inform performers, including at open-mic nights that there are two unassailable rules. Performers are not allowed to touch upon royalty and the royal institutions in Malaysia. And, they are not allowed to touch on any religion.
The individual in this case disregarded these two rules despite being informed of the regulations.
Her act is an ambush not only to the Crackhouse Comedy Club but to the entire stand-up comedy fraternity as it was a premeditated act aimed at sabotaging the club, and the entire fraternity, as she left the stage as soon as she had disrobed.
The Crackhouse Comedy Club took firm action by informing her that she had violated the rules and regulations of the club, and immediately banned her outright from the premises.
When it came to the attention of the management of the club that she herself had posted a video of what she did at the venue (and because it is the practice of the club to not allow recording devices), the management made a police report and gave full cooperation to the investigators.
However, the deputy Federal Territories minister announced that the Crackhouse Comedy Club's licence was suspended on July 10, and on July 11, the premises were sealed by DBKL.
Now, whilst this individual is being investigated by the authorities, the club and the entire Malaysian stand-up comedy scene have been unduly dragged down the gutter by this person.
The management of the Crackhouse Comedy Club has never courted controversy.
Stand-up comedians who perform there are allowed to perform like in all clubs. This is how many of the best local and international comedians have performed at this club.
The likes of Harith Iskander, Douglas Lim, Jason Leong, Nabil Ahmad, Mad Sabah, Nizam Jentik-Jentik, Kavin Jay, Kuah Jenhan, Ronnie Chieng, and international performers Dara O'Brien, Peter Berner, Butch Bradley, Paul Ogata, Dilruk Jayasinha and many more stand-up artists of great calibre have graced the Crackhouse Comedy Club stage.
Whilst we understand that some action needs to be taken, the act of sealing the Crackhouse Comedy Club and suspending its operating license, without prior written notice, is highly prejudicial and unfair, given that the management of the Crackhouse Comedy Club is willing, and ready to give its full cooperation to the authorities in respect of the unacceptable act by the said individual.
We strongly urge the authorities to revoke the suspension of the Crackhouse Comedy Club's license as this action is heavy-handed and without due process.
The individual's unilateral actions have brought disrepute to a fledgling yet thriving stand-up comedy fraternity in Malaysia.
In its eight years of existence, this type of incident has never once occurred at the Crackhouse Comedy Club.
We herewith urge the authorities to take stern action against the individual for any breach of the law, without penalising Crackhouse Comedy Club who had no part to play in this individual's actions and was caught by surprise by the said action.
The Crackhouse Comedy Club is at all times law-abiding and has always hosted good, hard-working, aspiring comedians, who in turn to make intend to make an honest living through this art form.
The management of the Crackhouse Comedy Club will continue to work with the authorities and Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to resolve all pending matters including its licencing status.
We stand in solidarity with the Crackhouse Comedy Club.
Rizal Van Geyzel - Co-founder
Shankar R Santhiram - Co-founder
Harith Iskander
Douglas Lim
Jason Leong Say Keong
Andrew Netto
Shamaine Othman
Kavin Jayaram
Phoon Chi Ho
Kuah Jenhan
Papi Zak
Prakash Daniel
Joanne Kam
Achmad Rusli @ Mad Sabah
Farid Azmeir
Keren Bala Devan
Muhd Fadzri @ Fakkah Fuz
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.