After being summoned for questioning for the 20th time, activist Fahmi Reza once again leaned into satire - romanticising his long-running “relationship” with the police, complete with a cheeky caricature to set the mood.
“I have another ‘date’ with the police at 2pm,” he quipped in a Facebook post.
“This is already the 20th time. Our relationship is very consistent… They call, I show up,” he wrote.
The graphic designer is famed for his feather-ruffling caricatures, particularly of prime ministers, including the notorious clown-faced Najib Abdul Razak.
Fahmi recounted that his first encounter with the police was in 2004, when Abdullah Ahmad Badawi was prime minister.
“I was still young then. The most recent (date) was last week at Bukit Aman, our usual place to ‘reconnect’,” he added, painting the police headquarters as if it were a familiar place for the old flames.
He went on to joke that the Dang Wangi district police headquarters remained their go-to “dating” spot “because it’s nearby, and the police don’t have to chase me too far”.
Nervous due to ‘new location’
Despite being a veteran of police stations, Fahmi admitted he is feeling a bit jittery about this afternoon’s “date” because it is at a new location.
“But today they’re taking me to a new spot in Klang. Kinda nervous. Wish me luck, guys!” he added.
Malaysiakini reported yesterday that Fahmi has been summoned to the Klang Utara district police headquarters over a sticker shown during his “Kelas Demokrasi” TikTok livestreams.
The investigation, triggered by a complaint, cites Sections 504 and 505(c) of the Penal Code relating to intentional insults and incitement, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for misuse of network services.
Fahmi is required to appear with relevant documents. The case involves a sticker depicting a brown mouse in a suit labelled “PM”.
‘Oppression era over, respect free speech’
However, DAP Youth has disapproved of the relationship between the police and Fahmi, reminding the authorities that the era of dictatorial regimes, where critics are oppressed, is over.
“The Madani government should continue to inspire hope among the people by differentiating the current administration from past regimes by respecting freedom of dissent rather than silencing satirists,” said the wing’s chief, Woo Kah Leong, in a statement.
He noted that the Sabah state election results showed that the people are the ultimate decision-makers and agencies like the police should not act arbitrarily as in the past, which risks tarnishing the government’s image.
“The government must take all measures to reform institutions to gain public trust, rather than allowing agencies under its purview to exacerbate situations.
“Stop all intimidation of critics, even satirists. Let us not forget that all of them once stood with us when we were in the opposition. The same standard must apply, whether one is in government or opposition.
“The public, especially Pakatan Harapan supporters, are watching and evaluating,” he added. - Mkini
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