[UPDATED] Fahmi Reza claims being blacklisted, barred from leaving country

KUALA LUMPUR – Intrepid graphic designer Fahmi Reza today claimed that he has been blacklisted in the Immigration Department’s system and therefore barred from leaving the country. 

In a tweet this morning, Fahmi said he learnt of the restrictions placed on him yesterday, alleging that the instructions came from the Bukit Aman police headquarters.  

“I have been banned from renewing my passport and banned from leaving the country.  

“The Immigration Department said the instructions came from Bukit Aman/Royal Malaysia Police,” he claimed. 

UPDATE: Aku dah kena blacklist dan dilarang ke luar negara. #SatireIsNotACrime pic.twitter.com/4ZwOqMLwNf

— Fahmi Reza (@kuasasiswa) April 23, 2022

The controversial artist, known for his biting satirical images, said that he is currently seeking clearance from police as he has to travel to Europe in May, after the Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebration, for a theatre performance which he is involved in.  

“If a criminal who has been convicted and has 42 corruption charges can get clearance to go abroad, I hope Bukit Aman can give me the same permission as well. 

“Don’t practice double standards,” he said, without naming any individual. 

For the record, the Court of Appeal in October allowed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak to access his passport temporarily to facilitate his trip to Singapore for the birth of his grandchild.  

The court previously held the former Umno president’s passport while hearing his bid to quash his conviction and sentencing in the RM42 million SRC International Sdn Bhd corruption case. 

In July 2020, Najib was sentenced to 12 years’ jail and fined RM210 million after being found guilty of all seven charges related to the misappropriation of RM42 million of SRC International funds.

The Pekan MP also faces a slew of other charges related to 1MDB, including 21 counts of receiving, using or sending illicit funds, as well as four counts of corruption involving US$681 million (RM2.8 billion) that appeared in his personal bank accounts, among others.

Actions over caricatures with animals 

Fahmi is being investigated under the Sedition Act 1948, and the Communications and Multimedia Commission Act 1998.

On April 14, he was arrested on April 14 after being questioned over an artwork depicting an ape donned in a yellow outfit with emblems and a headdress.

He had uploaded the image of a framed portrait of an ape, which resembles infamous cartoon villain Mojo Jojo from The Powerpuff Girls, with what appears to be the background of the Dewan Rakyat. 

While the 44-year-old political satirist did not name his artwork, speculation was rife that it could be related to the painting of primates and frogs attending a parliamentary session, which Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah bought.

Earlier, on February 10, Fahmi had claimed trial to one charge of uploading offensive material online with the intention to annoy or offend. 

The charge was over a caricature Fahmi allegedly uploaded on the social media platform that resembled former health minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.

The alleged offence was framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act, concerning the improper use of network facilities related to creating and spreading content deemed offensive or indecent in nature with the intent to annoy, abuse, or harass a person.

Later that night, in what appeared to be a sarcastic dig, he issued a public “apology” to all pigs in and out of the country for tarnishing their names by linking them to what he had called “useless” ministers in the country. – The Vibes, April 23, 2022