Malaysian satirist Fahmi Reza arrested for sedition in Sabah

The graphic designer is accused of insulting the state’s incoming governor Musa Aman with a sardonic caricature

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Malaysian satirist Fahmi Reza poses with a caricature on Musa Aman. Photo: Instagram/kuasasiswa

Published: 12:00pm, 31 Dec 2024Updated: 1:15pm, 31 Dec 2024

Prominent Malaysian satirist Fahmi Reza was arrested late on Monday on sedition charges in Sabah after he lampooned the state’s corruption-tainted former chief Minister Musa Aman with a caricature depicting the politician with a ringgit note instead of a tongue.

The 47-year-old graphic designer turned social commentator was questioned earlier in December over his original social media post, but still flew to Sabah on Friday to pose with copies of 3-metre-long drawings of Musa across the state capital Kota Kinabalu.

Musa was appointed as Sabah’s new governor on December 17 by Sultan Ibrahim, the king of Malaysia.

Fahmi’s arrest was confirmed by Sabah state police commissioner Jauteh Dikun, who said that the satirist was being investigated for sedition.

“It is still under investigation,” Jauteh told national news agency Bernama, adding that the police received over 30 complaints against Fahmi.

One petition came from local NGO Sabah Five Generations Association which accused him of insulting the incoming governor and Sultan Ibrahim.

“We ask the state government to stop Fahmi Reza from entering Sabah because he is causing chaos and trying to undermine our unity,” the group’s secretary Mohd Syarezan Abdul Samat said in a press conference last Friday.