YOURSAY | ‘Is there a lesson here for the police? Yes…’

Cops: Fahmi arrested for jealousy-themed Spotify playlist

Fahmi's note from detention: Satires and parodies should be defended

Vijay47: This is truly a sad tale where a simple seed grew into huge unwelcome proportions. The whole issue may have remained a passing breeze but for the arrival of a gang of villains to stir the broth to a boil. More on these cads later. No, it is not the butler who did it.

Let us look at the sorry story from the beginning. The Queen shared on social media her visit to the palace kitchen and the dishes or snacks she had helped prepare.

A fellow Instagram user asked whether the kitchen staff had already been vaccinated, implying by extension his concern for her safety. In utmost innocence, in carefree banter, the Queen then responded in those two words now haunting a nation, “Dengki ke?”

On hindsight, considering the sensitivity of Covid-19 vaccination, Her Majesty suspended her Instagram account. Artist-activist Fahmi Reza then entered the picture with a playful, cheeky jealousy-theme Spotify playlist.

Up to this stage, everything was fine, the matter would have faded. But now, enter the dragon-villains. Certain members of the public lodged police reports, stoking the embers, adding fuel to create raging fire. They had decided, on her behalf, that the Queen had been insulted.

Fahmi gets arrested and suddenly, all hell breaks loose. Unfortunately, the general bewilderment would be “But she started it!” I do not have the pleasure of knowing Her Majesty personally, but I am sure she would have been equally amused by the playlist, even adding to it perhaps.

Lines have been heavily drawn, it is now “David and Goliath”. What was the purpose of those ‘patriots’ making the police report? It could also be inferred that they wanted to place the Queen in poor light by generating this controversy.

Is there a lesson here for the police? Yes. That they should not jump on their high horses every time some idiot makes a report over an innocuous matter.

Regrettable and shocking as Fahmi’s arrest and detention is, I think the national record is still held by Bilqis Hajjas’ yellow balloon prosecution. Then again, it could be a tie for first place.

Apanakdikato: By arresting Fahmi for his harmless political satire, Malaysia is showing the international community that it is a repressive and draconian state.

Could the police have requested Fahmi to make a statement at the police station, then arrest him if warranted, rather than breaking his door and traumatising him and his neighbours?

Fahmi was treated like a hardcore criminal, while no action has been taken on members of the police force who conspired with notorious criminals, and who were allegedly responsible for the forced disappearances of Pastor Raymond Koh, social activist Amri Che Mat, Pastor Joshua Hilmi and his wife Ruth Hilmi.

God save this country...

The Analyser: The time is long overdue for many of Malaysia’s sacred cows to be exposed to the harsh light of reality.

As I have often said, this is a nation of delusions based on bulldust. And those delusions are protected from a range of criticisms by those in power who depend on such delusions to retain their status.

The country truly should be in a state of emergency but is failing to act on the crisis because the government is too busy propping up the sacred cows upon which they rely for their status.

Public Transit Is Better Than Highways: I can't brain around the profoundness of the PAS MP who lodged the police report and the police who in turn, agreed with it and engage in investigations by smashing through Fahmi's door. And you wonder why they turn a blind eye to the very thing that is causing all of this drama.

The prosecution would have a heavy task of proving that Fahmi has the intent to insult, or even just proving that the words "dengki ke" are insulting.

Fahmi is willing to take the fall when others wouldn’t. Kudos to him. I hope to contribute to his legal fund, if there is any.

Constitutionis Supreme: Is Fahmi a big-time criminal that warranted PDRM (Royal Malaysian Police) to break into his house?

I believe Fahmi will definitely obediently report to the police station to assist in the investigation. I could not comprehend why the need for the police to damage Fahmi's front door?

Two Come Out: The show of power is purely to intimidate as it allows the defendant to be imprisoned even if later the case is not taken to court.

If asked to come for an interview, there would be no punishment before judgment. This way, punishment has been meted out.

Frequentreader: I'm against the response to Fahmi's actions, but it does highlight some of this country's issues like curbing the people's freedom of expression as well as the abuse of power, authority and unfair treatment by the police/authorities, especially towards the common people; and as a result, hopefully more people will become aware of the existence of such issues and will oppose such actions/behaviour.

An Ordinary Malaysian: Other than oral speech and writing, parodies are just another form of expression. If one disagrees with a particular speech, writing or parody, rebut intelligently and make your case.

That said, should the police have even accepted the report in the first place when the complainant himself is not featured in the parody?

Salvage Malaysia: US TV channels constantly mock and make fun of their political leaders like the president, vice-president, attorney-general, etc, especially shows like SNL (Saturday Night Live).

And things are taken with a sense of humour all in the name of good harmless fun. Be a more tolerant society and the world will be a better place.

Apanama: Fahmi and Zunar are the two best persons we have thus far when we talk about freedom of speech through their respective works.

When both got caught, that means their message really hit the authorities' head. We need to protect and defend both of them at all cost.

We cannot let the incompetent government simply arrest them with flimsy charges. I salute both of them. Long live Fahmi and Zunar!

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