Graphic artist and designer Fahmi Reza has been summoned by police in connection with his drawing of a chimpanzee cartoon character dressed in what looks akin to royal attire.
The controversial activist said he got a call from Bukit Aman telling him to go to a police station later to facilitate an investigation under the Sedition Act.
“I have received a call from Bukit Aman.
“It has not been even 15 hours (since I posted the satire graphic) and the police have already opened an investigation paper under the #AktaHasutan and #AktaSakitHati,” he said in a Facebook post Thursday (April 14).
Fahmi said he was asked to be present at a police station on Thursday evening.
“See you soon, PDRM,” he added in his post.
On Wednesday (April 13), Fahmi posted on social media a drawing of chimpanzee Mojo Jojo, the villain from “The Powerpuff Girls” cartoon show, dressed in what resembles royal attire.
Some three hours later, the artist posted a statement that those who can accept satirical works which equalise others to being apes should accept it when a similar thing was done towards them.
While not mentioning names, it is believed that he was referring to Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, who purchased a painting that depicts lawmakers as monkeys, apes and frogs.
Artist Fahmi Reza under police probe for satirical post of a monkey in royal suit
Human rights group Article 19 previously criticised the government for hauling Fahmi to court, labelling it as a “malicious witch hunt” against the graphic artist.