If A Convicted Criminal Can Go Abroad Why Not Me Fahmi Reza

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Graphic artist Fahmi Reza, who has run into trouble with the authorities due to his artworks on political satire, claimed authorities had blocked him from renewing his passport.
He questioned the decision, contrasting with those who were convicted of corruption and were still given clearance to go abroad.
"Yesterday, I got to know that I am on the Immigration blacklist. I have been blocked from renewing my passport and leaving the country. The immigration department said the restriction came from Bukit Aman/police.
"If a criminal who has been convicted and is facing 42 charges of corruption can get clearance to go abroad, I hope Bukit Aman will also give me clearance.
"Don't behave double standards," he said in a statement on Instagram.
Fahmi did not mention names, but a figure who met the description is ex-prime minister Najib Abdul Razak who is facing a total of 42 criminal charges.
Seven of those charges are for money laundering, abuse of power and criminal breach of trust in relation to the misappropriation of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former 1MDB subsidiary, which Najib has been found guilty for.
Najib was sentenced to 12 years imprisonment, a RM210 million fine by the Kuala Lumpur High Court in 2020 and the Court of Appeal upheld the decision.
He is appealing the case at the Federal Court.
'Insulting a minister'
In October last year, the court released Najib's passport for him to travel to Singapore.
Fahmi was charged twice this year over his satire artwork.
He was on Feb 10 charged under Section 233(3) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for uploading an artwork that was deemed "insulting a minister".
The artwork was a criticism of the government imposing more lenient Covid-19 quarantine measures on ministers compared to ordinary citizens.
On Feb 17, Fahmi was again charged under the same law for satire artwork targeting PAS over a liquor ban.
Fahmi said he was scheduled to travel to Europe for a theatre show next month.
"I'm working on trying to get clearance from Bukit Aman before my flight after Hari Raya," he said.
A check on the immigration portal did not show any travel restrictions on Fahmi.
However, a block on passport renewal renders any restrictions moot as he would not have the papers to travel. - Mkini

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