A Samad Said is not perturbed by the urgings from certain quarters to strip him of the national laureate title.
On the contrary, the 81-year-old poet welcomed the move.
Taking it a step further, Samad said that he would not even care should the government revoke his citizenship.
"As far as the call to revoke my laureate title, I welcome that with open arms.
"In fact, I even welcome the revocation of my citizenship should they decide to do so," he told Malaysiakini .
Samad is currently being investigated for sedition for allegedly giving a speech at an event on the eve of Merdeka Day celebrations this year where the Sang Saka Malaya flag was flown.
He was arrested at his home at just past midnight of Sept 4 and held for questioning for two hours.
Police claim that this was necessary because he had “sneaked home” and did not heed earlier urgings to surrender, while The Malaysian Insider quoted Samad as saying that this was a police cover-up due the the public backlash against them for the late-night arrest.
Pak Samad, as he is fondly known, claimed that the was at his Bangsar home the whole day, aside from taking a walk and having tea at a nearby mamak shop. No police came to his home during that time.
Meanwhile, pressure groups such as Gagasan Pendidikan Melayu Malaysia, had reportedly urged that Samad be stripped of his national laureate title, according to Utusan Malaysia .
Another group, Perkasa said stern action should be taken against those who flew the Sang Saka Malaya because the move is an “ affront to a national symbol as well as the country’s dignity”.
Bernama had quoted Culture and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek as saying that it is up the panel that awarded Samad his title to decide whether it should be revoked, adding that his actions lower public perception of national laureates.
The furore surrounding Samad has apparently generated some concern amongst his peers.
“What is happening to the poet Samad Said? There is little news of him in Indonesia,” tweeted the prominent Indonesian writer Goenawan Mohamad.
His question was directed PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, among others.
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