We were shocked, says Crackhouse co-founder on performance that allegedly insulted Islam

KUALA LUMPUR – While it is not every day that you get to watch a tudung-clad woman take the stage for open mic night, the management of Crackhouse Comedy Club may have gotten more than they bargained for when they slotted an “aspiring comedian” into the list of stand-up performers one evening.

Narrating what transpired, Crackhouse Comedy Club co-founder Rizal Van Geyzel admitted that his team was, at first, thrilled to see a Malay woman in a headscarf wanting to participate in the event.

Little did he know that the night would turn from comedy to nightmare, resulting in his comedy club’s operating licence being temporarily suspended by Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL).

“After a few seconds into her ‘set’, when she started disrobing her tudung and the rest, all the staff and the other comics present were totally shocked and gobsmacked,” he told The Vibes.

“We were getting our bearings together. Before any action could be taken (usually by a ring of a bell or turning the mic off), she left the stage. We were all just stunned.”

A video of the said woman pulling the stunt in front of an audience during a three-minute open mic session at Crackhouse Comedy Club has since gone viral on social media.

In the 45-second video, the woman introduced herself as “Siti Amira binti Abdullah” and claimed to be Muslim and to have memorised 15 chapters (juzuk) of the Quran.

“Hello and assalamualaikum, everyone. My name is Siti Amira binti Abdullah. I’m from Kuala Kangsar, Perak.

“I’m a Malay and Muslim, and I have memorised 15 juzuk of the Quran. But one second…,” she said before starting to undress, revealing her spaghetti top and mini skirt.

As she started to take off her headscarf and baju kurung, cheering and clapping from the audience were heard echoing throughout the premises.

Rizal, who is also a stand-up comedian, said the woman in question was not a regular customer at the club, nor was she known to the team.

However, Rizal explained, that is how new talent is discovered – by allowing unknown persons with a knack for comedy to perform.

“We allow unknown people on our open mic night. We, however, make sure our newbies know that insulting royalty or religions is off-limits.”

Moving forward, he said he will be extra vigilant, and that his team will be trained to either escort “deviant aspiring comedians” (who perform on open mic nights and breach their guidelines) off the stage, or deactivate the microphone immediately if someone insults any religion.

“Open mic nights have to remain ‘organic’. If not, there is nothing ‘open’ about these nights,” he said. 

Since the incident, Crackhouse Comedy Club had 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.

Bukit Aman’s Criminal Investigation Department will also be investigating the case involving the woman who professed to be of the Muslim faith before taking off clothing and allegedly insulting Islam during the show.

Royal Malaysia Police secretary Datuk Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said that investigation papers have been opened under Section 298A of the Penal Code on statements touching on religious sensitivities and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for misuse of network facilities and services.

Meanwhile, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Idris Ahmad stressed that his department will not tolerate any act that insults the sanctity of Islam.

In a Facebook post on his official account yesterday, Idris said he had instructed the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (Jawi) to take action in accordance with the provisions of existing laws immediately.

Jawi has also conducted a preliminary investigation into the video, with its director Datuk Mohd Ajib Ismail saying that the probe had been carried out by the Jawi Enforcement Division.

It is learnt that the woman in question, along with her partner, had allegedly tarnished the reputation of live music bar Merdekarya in the past by allegedly “deceiving” its patrons into eating pork at its premises. – The Vibes, July 10, 2022