POLICE have received a remand order to detain political cartoonist Fahmi Reza for one day, and the well-known graphic designer will be released later this evening, said Yohendra Nadaraja.

Speaking to reporters at the Dang Wangi police station, the cartoonist’s lawyer said the investigation officer did not add anything further to the case but informed lawyers that it involves a person of interest.

“Remand has been granted; a day has been given. The investigating officer only needs to take his statement, fingerprints and picture. All can be done in one or two hours.”

“Nothing more has been added to the case. It involves a person of interest. We expect Fahmi to be released by 5pm, not more than that,” he told reporters today.

Fahmi, a graphic artist known for his political satire cartoons, was arrested at 7pm yesterday by Dang Wangi police.

Opposition MPs and civil rights groups have demanded the authorities free Fahmi immediately saying his artwork is not a criminal act.

In a statement last night, police confirmed they had detained Fahmi for allegedly insulting the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Huzir Mohamed said the case was being investigated by the Classified Criminal Investigation Unit, Prosecution and Law Division (D5) under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

A few days ago, Fahmi published a design using the Queen’s face with a caption “Dengki ke” (Are you jealous?) on Facebook.

It is believed the caption was referring to an Instagram conversation between her and a follower, who asked if her chefs had also received unapproved Covid-19 vaccines.

The Queen replied: “Dengki ke”.

Not long after the post went viral, social media users began using the #dengkike hashtag before it began to trend on social media.

The Queen later deactivated her Instagram account, but reactivated it with a motivational quote.

Pasir Mas MP Ahmad Fadhil Shaari of PAS lodged a police report, alleging that Fahmi had insulted the monarchy.

Recently, Hong Kong-based news portal Asia Sentinal also alleged Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah had obtained China-made Sinopharm vaccines, which have not yet been approved by the Health Ministry, from a prince in the United Arab Emirates.

Health Minister Dr Adham Baba denied the report, saying it was baseless as all vaccines purchased by the government went through strict procedure.

One of the King’s doctors, who was named in the report, also denies he was involved. – April 24, 2021.