MP's tribute to Fahmi: Dictators forget youths spearhead revolutions

Summary

• Hassan Abdul Karim writes a poem in response to the arrest of activist Fahmi Reza.

• The Pasir Gudang MP appears to be warning the powers that be in his poem.

Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Abdul Karim has written a poem in response to the arrest of activist Fahmi Reza, which also appears to carry a chilling warning to those in power.

In his Malay poem titled “Sajak for Fahmi Reza”, he wrote of how those who once joined protests in the streets are now in power, only to wield for themselves the draconian laws that once held them in check.

He ended this poem with:

“But forevermore,
The authoritarians, the dictators, and the oligarchs forget,
That young people are the pioneers of revolutions everywhere.”

The full poem in its original Malay and the English translation by Malaysiakini is as follows:

Sajak Untuk Fahmi Reza

Anak muda yang berkarya
Malam ambang tahun baru ini
Kamu dikurung di lokap jenayah
Letih abang-abangmu dulu
Setiap unjuk rasa
Beribu turun ke jalanraya
Untuk bina negara bebas bersuara
Kini kamu menyaksikan sendiri
Yang dulu mengepalai demo
Sedang bertakhta di Perdana Putera

Lalu dekri diumum Corong Bernama
Hasutan bernama satu Akta
Dilepaskan seperti anjing liar

Awas anak-anak muda yang berkarya
Karyamu adalah subversif
Kepada sang koruptor
Gerombolan penguasa kini ketakutan
Anak muda merdeka fikiran
Jadi suatu ancaman
Tetapi selamanya
Geng otoriter, diktator dan oligarki lupa
Anak-anak muda adalah pelopor revolusi di mana jua.

English translation:

Poem for Fahmi Reza

Young one creating art,
On this New Year's Eve night,
You are confined in a criminal lockup.
Your elder brothers once grew weary,
Every protest,
Thousands took to the streets.
To build a nation of free speech,
Now you witness with your own eyes,
Those who once led the demonstrations,
Now enthroned in Perdana Putra.

Then came a decree announced by Bernama,
Sedition named as an Act,
Unleashed like a wild dog.

Beware, young artists,
Your works are deemed subversive
To the corrupt.
The ruling gang now lives in fear,
Of free-thinking youths,
Becoming a threat.
But forevermore,
The authoritarians, the dictators, and the oligarchs forget,
That young people are the pioneers of revolutions everywhere.

Fahmi was arrested on Monday and the police were granted a one-day remand order against him, meaning he is due to be released today.

The arrest and remand were to facilitate investigations under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for misuse of network facilities, and Section 504 of the Penal Code for intentional insult intended to provoke a breach of peace.

READ MORE: Why is Musa Aman's appointment controversial?

This is for his caricature depicting Musa Aman as “Sabah’s Number One Corruptor”, in reference to previous corruption and money laundering charges for which he has been acquitted.

A copy of the caricature was put up on a wall in Asia City, Kota Kinabalu, on Dec 27 but was removed just hours later.

Various groups and individuals have condemned Fahmi’s arrest, calling for his immediate release and criticising the legal actions against him as an attack on freedom of expression.

Musa was appointed Sabah’s governor on Dec 17 and officially assumed his office today.

Sabah police confirm Fahmi remanded one day

PM disagrees with probe against Fahmi, PKR Youth reminds cops

Activist Fahmi arrested over Musa Aman poster

'Satire not a crime,' Fahmi parodies Fahmi amid probe

Bersih calls for end to 'intimidation' of activists

Anwar: Art must be free, even critical of the govt