Petronas Philharmonic Hall cancels Harith's show

Summary

• The Petronas Philharmonic Hall website announces the cancellation of Harith Iskander’s Jan 25 show.

• This comes after the comedian’s social media posts on the “ham” sandwich controversy.

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The Petronas Philharmonic Hall announced the cancellation of comedian Harith Iskander’s Jan 25 show.

This comes after he made a Facebook post touching on the controversial “ham” sandwich scandal.

According to its website, the concert hall said those who purchased tickets for the show can exchange them for another show at the venue or a Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra performance.

Ticket holders may also apply for a refund through the original payment method.

The announcement, which was signed off by the hall’s management, said exchanges and refunds must be made by Feb 8.

‘Ham joke’

Harith had drawn criticism from netizens after he joked about “ham sap kopi”, saying it was jeopardising his faith as the name included the word “ham”.

On Jan 18, he posted a photo of the coffee shop menu item with the caption, “I’m so confused. My iman tergugat (faith is compromised).

“This kopi will lead me down the wrong path in so many ways.

“Not just tempting me to become hamsap but also confusing me with the word ‘ham’ in it. Ni untuk minum atau makan (is this to drink or eat)?

“I must make a police report because I am so weak I have lost all ability to use logic. Who else is confused? ? #confused,” he posted.

The menu item is understood to refer to salted coffee but the word “ham sap” also colloquially refers to a pervert.

In response to the joke, another comedian known as Shahrol Shiro lodged a police report and called out Harith for allegedly providing fodder for the public to insult and ridicule Islam.

The police have since opened an investigation against Harith.

In addition, the Islamic Development Department (Jakim) will summon Harith as his post, which was made on Facebook and X, resulted in a comment from a woman which was deemed insulting to Prophet Muhammad.

Jakim has also lodged a police report against the comedian, its director-general Sirajuddin Suhaimee said.

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