CORRECTION NOTE
In our press statement titled 'SUARAM: Release Fahmi Reza Now!' dated 30 December 2024 (which has now been taken down to avoid confusion), we stated that:
“Efforts to stifle his criticism included the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) public warning on 20 December to stop sharing Fahmi's poster online, and the swift removal of posters in less than five hours by Kota Kinabalu authorities, including the police, that he put up on 27 December in the city.”
We wish to clarify that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) did not issue a warning to the public to stop sharing Fahmi Reza’s posters in Kota Kinabalu online. This was an oversight on our part, and we sincerely apologise for the mistake made. SUARAM has issued this correction immediately (see below) upon being made aware of the factual inaccuracy. We are committed to ensuring accuracy in our public communications and will take measures to prevent such oversights in the future.
REVISED STATEMENT: RELEASE FAHMI REZA NOW!
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM) strongly condemns the detention of graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza over his physical satirical poster criticising the appointment of Musa Aman as Sabah Chief Minister. His detention is not only unnecessary but also serves to intimidate and suppress public dissent. This is further compounded by the latest warning from the police, threatening his immediate arrest under the Sedition Act should he attend tomorrow’s peaceful anti-corruption assembly.
Fahmi’s detention represents a draconian response to the exercise of freedom of expression using satire, continuing an alarming escalation of state intimidation since the 19 December investigations. Efforts to stifle his criticism consisted of the swift removal of posters in less than five hours by Kota Kinabalu authorities, including the police, that he put up on 27 December in the city.
The government’s persistent targeting of Fahmi Reza, despite Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim’s 21 December statement opposing his arrest, underscores its growing intolerance toward criticisms against the government. Such hypocrisy has emerged before, as seen in investigations against Rafique Rashid Ali under the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) for remarks against Anwar in the Rakyat Lawan Anwar rally.
Fahmi’s detention foreshadows worsening weaponisation of laws including the Sedition Act and the CMA to stifle freedom of expression and suppress critical voices – even with the recently passed CMA amendments that exclude satire and parody from being classified as ‘false’ hence prosecution.
Article 10 of the Federal Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of expression, which the government must respect by ceasing arbitrary restrictions on dissent. SUARAM demands the immediate release of Fahmi Reza and urges the government to impose a moratorium on the use of the Sedition Act and CMA to curtail freedom of expression.
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