My heart goes out to Wan Muhammad Azri bin Wan Deris, better known as Papagomo or Sir Azri among his followers and political observers, as he finds himself trapped in a terrifying ordeal. On the night of 7 May 2025, after reading a chilling news report on Sinar Harian Online, Papagomo was left in a state of shock and fear. The next day, driven by a desperate need to protect himself and his family, he took the courageous step of filing two reports against the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Tan Sri Razarudin Husain—one at the Setapak Police Station and another with the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), both on 8 May.
The Backstory
The roots of this harrowing saga trace back to 26 December 2024, when IGP Razarudin filed a defamation lawsuit against Papagomo, demanding RM3 million in damages. The lawsuit stemmed from Papagomo’s scathing remarks, where he labeled Razarudin as an “honored prisoner’s prostitute”. This made Papagomo the second individual in Malaysia to be sued by an IGP, following Anwar Ibrahim himself. On 31 December 2024, the court issued an injunction prohibiting Papagomo from making any further statements or sharing images related to the IGP.
However, on 14 and 15 January 2025, Papagomo allegedly posted statements and image of the IGP, prompting Razarudin to file a committal application on 24 January, seeking Papagomo’s imprisonment or a fine for contempt of court due to his failure to comply with the injunction. On 10 February, the High Court granted the committal application. Fast forward to 30 April 2025, Papagomo stood before Judicial Commissioner Gan Techiong, offering an unconditional apology to both the court and the IGP for his defamatory remarks and the manipulated image of Razarudin. He was ordered to remove the offending posts immediately and pay RM5,000 in costs.
“With a pure heart and without any conditions, I, Wan Muhammad Azri bin Wan Deris, sincerely apologize to this honorable court and to the IGP, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, for using defamatory and treacherous words against the plaintiff in my post dated 14 January 2025, as well as for using an edited image of the IGP on 15 January 2025,” Papagomo stated solemnly in court.
The court accepted his apology on the condition that it be published immediately on platforms like YouTube, TikTok, X, and Telegram, remaining visible for at least seven days. Failure to comply could have landed him in prison—a heavy burden for anyone to bear.
A Nightmare Unfolds
One might think that Papagomo’s heartfelt apology and compliance would bring closure to this saga, but the nightmare was far from over. On 7 May 2025, Razarudin publicly declared that Papagomo’s apology lacked sincerity, reigniting the activist’s fears. Representing the IGP, lawyer Raam Kumar called the apology a “mockery,” pointing out that the video apology posted on Papagomo’s social media was accompanied by the background music of P. Ramlee’s “Maafkan Kami” from the classic film Pendekar Bujang Lapok—a choice that Razarudin deemed disrespectful. Not stopping there, Razarudin sought to have Papagomo imprisoned, a move that struck terror into the heart of the embattled blogger.
Papagomo’s fears are not unfounded. He dreads meeting a fate similar to that of Yusoff Rawther, a man whose story serves as a grim reminder of what can happen to those who challenge the powerful. The thought of being framed, oppressed, or even killed by the police haunts him. After all, Papagomo isn’t just taking on the IGP—he’s also been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, making him a target of two of the most influential figures in Malaysia. The risks he faces are immense, and his courage in speaking out is nothing short of remarkable.
A Heartfelt Encounter
I had the privilege of meeting Papagomo face-to-face to hear his perspective on this terrifying ordeal. In his police report filed at 2:42 PM at Setapak Police Station, he expressed his shock at Razarudin’s threat to have him thrown into prison. “I have deleted all statements as ordered by the court and issued a public apology on various platforms like YouTube, TikTok, X, and Telegram on 30 April 2025. Yet, the IGP’s statement feels like an open threat that could endanger my safety,” Papagomo shared, his voice heavy with worry.
Papagomo firmly believes that the IGP’s actions constitute an abuse of power, a sentiment echoed in his complaint to the EAIC filed on the same day. He fears not only for his own life but for the safety of his family, who have already endured significant hardship at the hands of the police. Papagomo recounted how he and his loved ones have been targeted with arrests, investigations, detentions in lockup, and even the seizure of their residence and vehicles by the AMLA PDRM unit.
“I am deeply worried that I will be oppressed, framed, or worse, killed by certain parties, especially the police, following the IGP’s public statement,” he wrote in his EAIC complaint, adding that he believes the IGP’s words were malicious and intended to inflict mental and physical pressure on him.
A Piercing Question
During our meeting, Papagomo posed a question that struck me to the core: “If the harsh words I directed at the IGP led to consequences like lawsuits and threats of imprisonment, why have my remarks about Anwar Ibrahim—calling him a ‘sodomite’ and an ‘HIV patient’—not been met with action from the Prime Minister himself?” He paused, his eyes reflecting both defiance and despair, before concluding, “I believe Anwar Ibrahim is using the IGP to silence me. So, doesn’t that prove the labels I’ve given are true?”
As I journeyed home, my mind lingered on the questions he raised. My heart swirled with a mix of doubt and dread—doubt about the motives behind Papagomo’s prosecution, and dread over how this saga might be phased. Even as I pen this article, the answers remain untraced.
Amir Al Fateh is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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