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KUALA LUMPUR – Intrepid artist Fahmi Reza, known for his lampooning illustrations on current political and social issues, has brushed aside pressure from the authorities to delete a satirical graphic despite being called in by the police over the matter today.
Fahmi was called to the Bukit Aman police headquarters over his art on #HouseOfBalak, which he had posted on social media earlier this month.
Emerging from the session, he said on Facebook that he was asked 20 questions during the meeting with the police.
He gave two examples of the questions he was asked at the end of the session.
One was on whether he had deleted the artwork from his Facebook page, and the other was on whether he had made any apologies over the artwork.
To both questions, he proclaimed that he had not deleted the artwork and that he made no apologies at all.
“Nope, it’s not been erased. It’s still there,” he said. He also added: “There is no tendering of apology.”
He also tweeted that he had completed the questioning session, attaching a photo of himself showing a peace sign with his fingers in front of the headquarters with a copy of the artwork in a frame.
Selesai disoalsiasat polis di Ibu Pejabat Polis Bukit Aman untuk jenayah melukis grafik satira #HouseOfBalak. Kes pertama tahun 2022. Kepada pihak polis, kita jumpa lagi next time. Apa-apa roger. pic.twitter.com/QnFLXItoql
— Fahmi Reza (@kuasasiswa) January 25, 2022
“Finished being questioned by police at the Bukit Aman police headquarters for the crime of drawing the satirical artwork #HouseOfBalak. The first case in 2022. To the police, we will meet again next time. If there is anything, you can roger (me),” he said.
Fahmi had yesterday alerted his social media followers that he was summoned to the police headquarters for an investigation.
“Police have opened a new investigation against me under the Sedition Act and #AktaSakitHati because of the first satirical graphic art I posted this year on #HouseOfBalak.
“As usual, I was called for questioning tomorrow, this time at the Bukit Aman police headquarters. See you tomorrow @PDRMsia!” he tweeted.
Polis dah buka kertas siasatan baru terhadap aku bawah Akta Hasutan dan #AktaSakitHati kerana grafik satira pertama yang aku post tahun ni pasal #HouseOfBalak. Macam biasa aku dipanggil untuk disoalsiasat esok, kali ni di Ibu Pejabat Polis Bukit Aman. Kita jumpa esok @PDRMsia! pic.twitter.com/VrwhpCfflu
— Fahmi Reza (@kuasasiswa) January 24, 2022
The artist also attached the post with a picture of him posing while showing off his artwork.
Previously, Fahmi had been detained a few times including for his drawing, which allegedly mocked Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
On October 4, he announced on Twitter that he was arrested by police over a poster he made with a caricature of the prime minister.
Meanwhile, police tonight confirmed that they are indeed investigating Fahmi for offences under the Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 Communications and Multimedia Act for misusing network services.
“Police confirms investigations relating to a post uploaded on January 3 by Fahmi, which depicts the Pahang state emblem with the words ‘House of Balak’ (House of Timber).
“On January 25, the suspect was summoned to the Bukit Aman police headquarters to assist in investigations.
“Police advise the public to remain responsible on social media and refrain from spreading information that threatens public peace and harmony,” Bukit Aman CID director Datuk Seri Abd Jalil Hassan said in a press statement. – The Vibes, January 25, 2022