Fahmi says 'police visit' warning aimed at viewers who touched on 3R

Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil courted brickbats after telling his critics that they may be visited by cops during a TikTok live session last night.

The minister, however, has clarified that the warning was aimed at those who made remarks on 3R (race, religion, royalty) issues, and not because of criticism.

Fahmi's warning came at the tail end of his live session last night.

"To all of those who have made these remarks, you are being monitored by the authorities.

"Don't get mad at me if there is a call later or if a (police) radio car visits your house. We are monitoring, behave yourself," he said before chuckling.

A snippet of the remarks, as well as a media report on it, prompted questions on social media on whether Fahmi was abusing his power - with Muda being among the most critical.

Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman

"In the past, you upheld freedom of speech, now you threaten critics on TikTok," said Muda president Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman.

"This is what happens when people abandon principles for power. Send them a ‘wake up’ call in the upcoming state elections," he added.

Muda announced yesterday that it would be ending its electoral pact with Pakatan Harapan, and will be contesting the upcoming state elections solo.

Back to Najib era?

Meanwhile, Muda vice-president Zaidel Baharuddin questioned if the government was backsliding to the Najib Abdul Razak era when police were routinely used against critics.

Defending himself, Fahmi told FMT that the threat was not over criticism against himself or the government.

"I gave a reminder to everyone not to post incendiary 3R comments.

“When I’m doing my TikTok live at events, often the comments people may touch on 3R. I’ve said in many places that social media users should not use 3R for political purposes," he said.

Another clip shared by former Umno Youth executive committee member Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo, showed Fahmi warning him that he was under investigation.

This was after someone chimed in that Azri had made disparaging remarks against Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. - Mkini