KUALA LUMPUR – Veteran musician Datuk David Arumugam has strongly denied any association with the couple at the centre of the controversy involving a recent comedy skit that allegedly insulted Islam.
The frontman and founding member of the veteran group Alleycats said he was completely unaware of the couple’s supposed plan to invite the band to perform at a sex-related event at Petaling Jaya music venue Merdekarya.
Contacted by The Vibes, Arumugam said he had also filed a police report at a station in Petaling Jaya yesterday after learning that his band had been associated with 38-year-old Alexander Navin Vijayachandran and his 26-year-old partner Siti Nuramira Abdullah.
This came after Alexander and Siti Nuramira reportedly mentioned the Alleycats as performers at an event they were planning to organise in Merdekarya, which was said to be a “sex workshop” of sorts, last month.
“I am unaware of this plan (for the event). I don’t know this person (Alexander) as I have never spoken to him. I have filed a report on the matter,” the Sampaikan Salam Cintaku singer said when contacted.
“I am very surprised and disappointed that my group (Alleycats) has been named (in this ordeal).”
Asked how he came to know about the Alleycats being widely mentioned on social media over the scandalous affair, Arumugam said his friends had sent him various media clips on the matter, which led him to file the report.
Yesterday, Siti Nuramira pleaded not guilty at the sessions court after recently being charged for allegedly insulting Islam during an open mic comedy skit at the Crackhouse Comedy Club in Taman Tun Dr Ismail.
The charge states that she is accused of inciting religious disharmony when she had claimed to be a Muslim and to have memorised 15 chapters (juzuk) of the Quran before stripping off her headscarf and baju kurung at the said location on June 4.
She was charged under Section 298A(1)(a) of the Penal Code, which relates to deliberately causing disunity, ill will, or hatred on the grounds of religion.
Her partner, Alexander – also known as Alex Chandran – was also charged yesterday at the Petaling Jaya sessions court under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
The section covers the misuse of communications networks and carries a maximum sentence of one year in jail, or a fine of up to RM50,000.
According to federal police secretary Datuk Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin, Siti Nuramira had been detained on July 9 after a video clip of her performance went viral, with her remand of four days set to end today.
Alexander, who was arrested the following day (July 10) for investigations, was also remanded until yesterday.
In the 45-second video of her performance, Siti Nuramira was cheered on by some audience members as she took off her clothes to reveal a spaghetti-string top and miniskirt.
The club subsequently lodged a police report at the Taman Tun Dr Ismail police station against the woman, adding that she and her partner had been barred from the venue immediately after the performance.
Her act eventually led to the Crackhouse Comedy Club’s operating licence being temporarily suspended by the Kuala Lumpur City Hall, a move that has been criticised by some of the biggest names in Malaysian comedy and similar venues.
The fiasco at the comedy house had also unearthed an earlier stir allegedly caused by the couple at Merdekarya in a Twitter thread that went viral.
Among other matters, Merdekarya alleged that Alexander had been a patron of the establishment around 2015, and had then raised concerns over complaints of harassment by other female customers.
BEBENANG PANJANG
— Merdekarya (@merdekarya) July 10, 2022
So. Citer dia camni:
Alex Chandran, boyfriend/suami/entah-apa kepada Amy Si Penanggal Baju yang viral, dulu-dulu selalu jugak lepak kat Merdekarya (sekitar tahun 2015).
Alexander was also repeatedly warned about the venue’s “no smoking-up policy”, and told that he was not welcome at Merdekarya unless he changed his behaviour, and he had since ceased visiting the place.
However, Merdekarya noted that last month, Alexander returned to the venue with his partner, Siti Nuramira – or Amy – who both pitched organising a “sex workshop”, which involved stand-up comedy and an appearance by the Alleycats.
Kami menolak permintaannya sebab, yelah, kitorang masih berpemikiran waras, dan lagipun Merdekarya ni tempat liveband akar umbi, bukannya tempat pesta seks berkumpulan sambil diiringi persembahan kugiran Alleycats. pic.twitter.com/lyDYdhU8re
— Merdekarya (@merdekarya) July 10, 2022
“We turned down the request because we are still sane, and furthermore, Merdekarya is a venue for grassroots live bands, not a group sex festival accompanied by a performance by the Alleycats,” the venue explained in the thread.
Apa yang terang di sini ialah pasangan Alex dan Amy nyata BUKAN pelawak dan hanya memperalatkan pentas seni Lembah Kelang untuk mempromosikan acara seks berkumpulan mereka. pic.twitter.com/A6eVXfHgpe
— Merdekarya (@merdekarya) July 10, 2022
The venue also accused the couple of refusing to pay their food bill in a dispute that ended up with Merdekarya’s founder Brian Gomez receiving death and arson threats from Alexander.
Pada hari-hari berikutnya, selama lima hari berturut-turut, kami dilanda bertubi-tubi ugutan bunuh dan ugutan nak bakar kedai kami daripada Alex melalui WhatsApp dan juga di media sosialnya. pic.twitter.com/2caiMZqWCH
— Merdekarya (@merdekarya) July 10, 2022
The venue also said Alexander was arrested and charged over the threats, but released from police custody after paying an RM100 fine.
Gomez, when contacted, told The Vibes that he had “no idea” why the couple kept bringing up the Alleycats in their promotion on the “workshop”.
Asked what he believed the couple was out to achieve in their “creative” endeavours, Gomez said he was also uncertain.
“I have no idea (what they want to achieve). And I really don’t think they do either. If I were to guess, I would think (it’s) martyrdom. I mean, they uploaded everything that incriminated themselves. But yeah, no idea, really.” – The Vibes, July 14, 2022
