Stand-up comedy hearing: Trial can be held at house or hospital - judge

A judge has warned that Siti Nuramira Abdullah stand-up routine trial can be conducted at her house or hospital if she is still absent from court.

Nor Hasniah Ab Razak issued this stern reminder when Siti Nuramira’s legal team informed that she was again absent today during the trial at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court.

Yesterday, the trial - over Siti Nuramira’s controversial stand-up routine act last year - was postponed to today due to her being on medical leave due to gastroenteritis.

Earlier during proceedings, the trial judge was informed by Siti Nuramira’s lawyer R Sivaraj that she (Siti Nuramira) was still unable to come to court today due to being warded at the emergency room (ER) at Universiti Malaya Medical Centre (UMMC) last night.

However, when presented with documentation by Siti Nuramira’s bailor, Nor Hasniah expressed dissatisfaction, pointing out that the documents do not seem to indicate that she (Siti Nuramira) was admitted into ER.

Medical report

The judge noted that the documentation only seemed to indicate payment rather than confirming that Siti Nuramira (above) was actually admitted last night.

Nor Hasniah then adjourned trial to April 17 and added further trial dates on May 26 and 31 to replace the postponed trial days of today and yesterday.

“We still have a trial on April 17; if she is still on MC, I will need a medical report (to be presented to the court).

“If still on MC (without sufficiently strong supporting documents), then we need to consider whether to hold the trial at her (Siti Nuramira's) house or the hospital (where she may be),” the judge reminded Sivaraj and Ramesh NP Chandran.

The prosecution was conducted by deputy public prosecutors Abdul Malik Ayob and Nadia Mohd Izhar.

3R principle

Two days ago, first prosecution witness Muhammad Ashraf Kamal Musthaffa testified that Siti Nuramira’s comedic routine violated the religious aspect of the “3R” principle to ensure respectful public discourse in Malaysia, which encompasses the sensitive topics of race, religion, and royalty.

Ashraf was the host of the show where Siti Nuramira took the stage at Crackhouse Comedy Club in Taman Tun Dr Ismail in Kuala Lumpur on June 4 last year.

On July 13, Siti Nuramira claimed trial to a charge under Section 298A of the Penal Code, a provision that deals with the offence of causing disharmony, disunity, enmity, hatred, ill-will, or prejudicing maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion, between persons or groups of persons professing the same or different religions.

According to the charge, she was alleged to have committed the offence by claiming she memorised 15 juzuk (chapters) of the Quran, then disrobing her baju kurung and taking off her tudung during the performance around 6pm last June.

She could be jailed for up to five years if convicted. She is out on bail of RM20,000, which was raised through crowdfunding.

Previously, a video of a woman - allegedly Siti Nuramira - taking off her headscarf and baju kurung on stage at a comedy club went viral on social media. - Mkini