KUALA LUMPUR – Comedian Harith Iskander’s blurb on immigration counters at Malaysian airports has irked the department’s director-general Datuk Seri Khairul Dzaimee Daud.
On Twitter, Khairul took the time to rebut Harith’s joke about the counters operating at minimal capacity at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA).
In response to a video posted by Harith, Khairul says the comedian’s take on the situation in KLIA was factually inaccurate.
“This is misleading, Harith,” Khairul said on Wednesday.
This is misleading Harith. @KDNPUTRAJAYA @imigresenmy @jpagov https://t.co/RQsTFyNEMf
— Khairul Dzaimee Daud (@Dzaimee) March 1, 2022
Harith had posted a snippet from his stand-up comedy special “I Told You So”, which originally aired in 2018.
The comedian was comparing the efficiency of Singapore’s immigration staffers at Changi International Airport with their counterparts in Malaysia.
Harith quipped that he was “amazed” by Singaporeans who “do not want to enjoy their country” as it is “all about business.”
He went on to explain that Singapore wanted visitors to “get in the country, get out as fast as possible.”
Harith added that Singapore would have 20 immigration counters, with all of them manned by officers.
“You have no time to enjoy the airport, because all the counters are open,” he quipped.
Harith noted the typical scenario was different in Malaysia.
“Ladies and gentlemen, (at) KLIA, Kuala Lumpur International Airport, we also got 20 counters. Two open.”
Following Khairul’s response, Harith told the top official to not take offence with the joke.
“It’s a clip from a stand up comedy show. Not a parliamentary proceeding,” the comedian quipped in another Twitter posting.
It's a clip from a stand up comedy show. Not a parliamentary proceeding. ? https://t.co/cVspf2MI8N
— Harith Iskander (@HarithIskander) March 2, 2022
Meanwhile, Khairul’s remarks had drawn mixed reactions from netizens.
“How is this misleading? Don’t you understand the meaning of ‘comedy’? This is comedy… not a serious matter... Harith is understandably a comedian by profession,” Twitter user Christina S. asked.
“All Malaysians understand what is a joke and what is not.”
Misleading apabenda ni? Tak faham maksud 'komedi' ka?? Ni komedi la.. bukan benda serious.. Harith is understandably a Comedian by profession. All Malaysians understand, what is a joke and what is not. Even Douglas Lim buat lawak pun, you take things like its a serious matter. ?♂️
— Christina S. (@christina_hysim) March 2, 2022
Another user, Redzanur, insisted there was some truth behind Harith’s joke.
“I am sorry, but it’s not misleading. Have you travelled without your privileges?” he asked Khairul. – The Vibes, March 4, 2022
