Good Intention But How Would Pas Youth Mediate In Harith Iskander S Ham Sap Kopi Controversy

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ONE really wonders if PAS Youth’s dakwah approach will ever work on Malaysia’s world acclaimed stand-up comedian Harith Iskander who courted controversy recently with his online “ham sap kopi” gig.

This may be a long shot but it could easily be imagined that the Islamist party’s wing harbours intention to school the 58-year-old “Malaysia’s godfather of stand-up comedy” by ultimately leading him to the deemed spiritual path of righteousness ala-PAS.
“Since brother Harith’s (Facebook) post continues to invite polemics and there haven’t been any calming and harmonising follow-up posts, PAS Youth sees the need to understand the basis of this issue raised by Muslims in Malaysia,” its chief Afnan Hamimi Taib Azamudden mooted the idea in a FB post.
“Therefore, PAS Youth is very excited to meet, hear opinions and exchange thoughts if brother Harith is willing to meet and discuss this matter.

“Furthermore, Harith is not a small name in the country. He once won first place in the “Funniest Person in the World” competition organised by The Laugh Factory in 2016. Therefore, this meeting session will definitely result in a mature and interesting discussion for joint learning.”
Whether Harith who is of Malay-Scottish blood would be receptive of PAS Youth’s invitation would first and foremost rest on the likelihood of him being summoned for police interrogation given that three police reports have been lodged against him to-date in Johor over allegations of making insensitive comments on Islam.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk M. Kumar said the reports against the local celebrity and a Facebook user were lodged in the Iskandar Puteri, Johor Baru North and Kluang districts.
Comm Kumar also said the post was then commented on by Facebook user Cecelia Yap Song KL.
“The user left a comment that read ‘all names with Mohammad got to be renamed then’ in a post made by Harith on his Facebook,” he added.
The case was being investigated under Section 298 of the Penal Code and Section 505(c) of the same Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
The latest is on JAKIM (the Malaysian Islamic Development Department) having summoned Harith to obtain details regarding allegations of him making insensitive comments about Islam after admitting that it has lodged a police report against the comedian.
According to its director-general Datuk Dr Sirajuddin Suhaimee, JAKIM was also working with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on the matter.

“All parties are asked to remain calm and leave it to the authorities to conduct an investigation,” he pointed out in a media statement.
“We (JAKIM) will never compromise and will take action if it is something that ridicules Islamic teachings and offends the sensitivities of Muslims. It is hoped that all parties can practise respect and tolerance in life,” – Focus Malaysia

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