Sabah police detain Fahmi Reza

 

Fahmi Reza was reported earlier today as saying he was on his way to the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters to be questioned.

PETALING JAYA: 

Graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza has been arrested by the police in Penampang, Sabah.

Sabah police commissioner Jauteh Dikun, who confirmed the arrest with FMT, said Fahmi would be investigated under the Sedition Act.

“We have yet to complete the investigation and we will be applying for a remand order,” he said.

Fahmi was reported earlier today as saying he was on his way to the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters to be questioned over his latest graphic, which had been turned into a mural in Kota Kinabalu.

He said he is being investigated for sedition, improper use of network facilities, and intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

“If you don’t hear any updates from me by 8pm, that likely means I will be spending the night in lockup,” he said in a post on X.

Last Friday, an NGO lodged a report against Fahmi for allegedly insulting the royal institution over the appointment of Musa Aman as the next Sabah governor.

Gerakan Kuasa Rakyat Malaysia also demanded that Fahmi be deported to Peninsular Malaysia.

Separately, rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) condemned Fahmi’s arrest, and demanded his immediate release.

In a statement, Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy labelled Fahmi’s detention a “draconian response to the exercise of freedom of expression using satire”.

“The government’s persistent targeting of Fahmi despite Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s statement on Dec 21 opposing his arrest, underscores its growing intolerance towards criticisms against the government,” he said. - FMT