FAHMI Reza has been arrested by the police over his latest caricature of a chimpanzee dressed in a Malay royal costume, the political cartoonist cum activist’s lawyer, Rajsurian Pillai, said.

He told reporters today that Fahmi was arrested at 4.20pm at the Dang Wangi police station where he had gone to give his statement.

“Police have confiscated his mobile phone and SIM card for investigation purposes. They will be applying for a remand order tomorrow,” he said.

Rajsurian said police are investigating Fahmi under the Sedition Act 1948 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Earlier, the cartoonist said in a Facebook post that he received a call from Bukit Aman informing him that he is being probed under the Sedition Act. 

“I have received a call from Bukit Aman. It has not even been 15 hours (after the Facebook post) and the police have already opened an investigation paper under the #AktaHasutan and #AktaSakitHati over my #beruk satire graphic, which I posted last night. 

“The police asked me to be present at a police station this very evening. See you soon PDRM!” Fahmi said on Facebook.

Yesterday, using the character of Mojo Jojo, the villain from The Powerpuff Girls cartoon show, Fahmi posted his drawing on Facebook depicting a primate in a royal costume akin to a Malay ruler. 

Hours later, he released a statement saying that those who can accept satirical works that equate others to apes should accept it when the similar thing is done to 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. – April 14, 2022.