Artist jailed, fined RM30,000 for caricature of PM
Published on: Wednesday, February 21, 2018
Kuala Lumpur: An artist and prominent opposition activist was jailed for a month Tuesday for publishing a caricature of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak looking like a clown, a ruling likely to exacerbate concern about free speech.Malaysia recently announced plans to amend a law to stamp out fake news, the latest step to broaden enforcement powers and penalties against online posts or content deemed detrimental to public order and security.Artist Fahmi Reza was found guilty under a communications law for spreading online content deemed "obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person".
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Fahmi was also fined RM30,000.His lawyer, Syahredzan Johan, said the judge did not give any grounds for the ruling."We are appealing the decision," Syahredzan told FMT, adding that they will post a RM10,000 bond to release Fahmi from custody pending the appeal.Fahmi faces a second similar charge in a separate court.
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Fahmi was among anti-government and opposition leaders and activists rounded up after protests against Najib over his handling of a multi-billion dollar controversy tied to state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).The government blocked several websites and news portals carrying reports critical of 1MDB and Najib, despite a longstanding government pledge not to censor the internet.
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Najib, who faced a leadership challenge following the 1MDB controversy, is preparing to call the general election that must be held by August. The fund and Najib have denied all wrongdoing.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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