KUALA LUMPUR – It is a tale of two Fahmis and a series of solidarity gatherings.
Lembah Pantai MP Fahmi Fadzil was summoned to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters for questioning late this morning, as a witness over his involvement at a solidarity gathering for artist-activist Fahmi Reza Mohd Zarin more than a week ago.
Fahmi Fadzil said he gave the police two statements, the first concerning the solidarity gathering on April 24 and the other over a report lodged on allegations of interference by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin with Special Branch operations.
“I have given the two statements to the same investigating officer, and fortunately all seems to have gone smoothly,” he told members of the media who were waiting outside the station.
He also said he was the first person to be called out of eight involved in the solidarity gathering. Fahmi Fadzil was accompanied by lawyer Syahredzan Johan, who said his client will fully cooperate with the police.
Also present was Fahmi Reza, who said he would wait in solidarity outside Dang Wangi until Fahmi Fadzil was done with the police.
Fahmi Reza was present with a poster that reads: “Lawan Dengki Dengan Solidariti”.
“When I was detained here at Dang Wangi, a group of people came over to gather in a show of solidarity with me.
“Today the police opened investigation papers against eight people who stood in solidarity with me. I am here today to stand in solidarity with those who stood in solidarity with me.”
Lawan dengki dengan solidariti#SolidarityIsNotACrime pic.twitter.com/binSfX7PGh
— Fahmi Reza (@kuasasiswa) May 4, 2021
Showing solidarity is not a crime, he said, adding that he would stand with the other seven who will be questioned. So far, police have only questioned Fahmi Fadzil.
Just two hours after publishing a second “This Is Dengki Ke” playlist, this time on Apple Music, Fahmi Reza was arrested on April 23.
He was brought to the Dang Wangi police station over two such playlists, and investigated under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and Sedition Act 1948.
Choosing to name the playlists “This Is Dengki Ke” is understood to be a satirical take on an Instagram comment by Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
The queen made the comment “Dengki ke? (Are you jealous?)” on April 19 in reply to a netizen who asked whether chefs at the palace have been vaccinated against Covid-19, after Tunku Azizah posted photos of dishes prepared by her and the palace’s kitchen crew.
This came about after an Asia Sentinel report last week accused the royal family of hoarding 2,000 doses of the Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine, which has yet to be approved for use. – The Vibes, May 4, 2021