Going After Comedians Is A Rotten Joke

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In February 2014, in an open letter to comedians Allan Perera and Indi Nadarajah, I wrote: “As the two members of Comedy Court, you'll have to feel afraid, very, very afraid – real afraid. There is a group of Malaysians (safe to say a minute fraction of our society) which has been living under the proverbial coconut shell.
“Many of us are totally aware that your shows are satirical and lampoon many of our leaders, their wives and girlfriends. This is meant to be humour, but there are a few who refuse to see the funny side of things, especially those not on the sunny side.”
The duo is among a dozen comedians who provide light-hearted commentary on everything Malaysian, which leaves us reeling in laughter. 
Although it was a piece of friendly, unsolicited and hilarious "advice" given in jest, it is turning into a nightmare. 
Much later in a column last year, I wrote: “The creative fraternity is now feeling the gust of gale-force winds. The authorities are coming down hard on any attempt which shows dissent or expresses contrary opinions.
“Is this a subtle message to Allan Perera, Jason Leong and others who dabble in satire and parody in the course of their work?”
Kedah MB’s joke on makeshift morgue
This was in response to the arrest of a 61-year-old man for a nine-minute-long video deriding Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor over a joke the politician made about containers being used as a makeshift morgue for those who died from Covid-19.
My retort was to the point: “What was the senior citizen’s supposed offence? He repeatedly questioned the Kedah menteri besar’s intelligence! But to criminalise someone for offering enlightenment to the maker of a crude joke at a press conference is a no-brainer.”
Last week, the danger signs of that gale force winds re-emerged. The police arrested and questioned Crackhouse Comedy Club co-founder Rizal van Geyzel under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Rizal has been at the centre of a controversy after videos circulated on social media irked certain quarters who were not happy with his stand-up material.
The investigations were on three videos that allegedly touched on racial and religious sensitivities. These were not recently produced but like most other comedians, clips of their performances are loaded on YouTube and other platforms.
Crackhouse Comedy Club co-founder Rizal van GeyzelLive and let live
No one in his right frame of mind will go on stage to belittle any religion or race but he or she sometimes uses the creative licence to commensurate with situations.
Are we to watch in awe when the health minister tells us that warm water is a cure for Covid-19? Are we to applaud someone who says the “trains kissed” to describe a collision between two trains?
On YouTube, you can find a 38-second clip of stand-up comedian Fakkah Fuzz, a Singaporean, and this is part of the transcript: “There is a difference between Singaporean Malays and Malaysian Malays… In Singapore, when there is a thief, we call him pencuri. In Malaysia, they call him perdana menteri.”
This was posted on YouTube six years ago and has garnered more than 4,000 views. Many Malaysians would have had a good laugh but it could have irked a section of the population, especially one man, his family, cronies and supporters.
Singapore’s stand-up comedian Fakkah FuzzAs they say, one man’s meat is another man’s poison and we should live and let live. There is no necessity to wield a sledgehammer to kill a fly when the fly is non-existent.
The catch-phrase of the authorities is “sensitive” but this question has to be raised: Were such acts done with intent and in front of what kind of audience?
Anyone attending such shows goes there to enjoy and have a good laugh and not to attend a serious sermon on race and religion.
No one would degrade, let alone talk on such issues at a public gathering.
While we understand the need to implement the law, the authorities have to strike a balance and accept that the people have a right to laugh when politicians make gaffes and the right of comedians and writers to use them as material for their scripts. 
The current government and its predecessor have been continually referred to as a “back door” government.
Isn’t it derogatory and “sensitive” or is the government accepting that it has occupied the seat of power by dubious means?
One final word: Would I be breaking the law if I say in jest that the clowns are after the comedians? - Mkini
R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread and butter issues. Comments: [email protected].
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT

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