{{Short description|Malaysian graphic designer and satirist}} {{Malay name|Mohd Fahmi Reza|Mohd Zarin|note=on}} {{Infobox person | name = Fahmi Reza | native_name = {{lang|ms|{{Script|Arab|فهمى رضا}}}} | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = Mohd Fahmi Reza bin Mohd Zarin | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|06|07|df=yes}} | birth_place = Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia | alma_mater = Vanderbilt University (BE) | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = | occupation = Satirist, graphic designer, street artist, filmmaker | notable_works = Clown portrayal of Malaysian Prime Minister, Najib Razak Portraying Malaysian politicians in a satirical and comedic way | awards = | spouse = | children = | relatives = | signature = | signature_alt = | module = | website = }}
'''Mohd Fahmi Reza bin Mohd Zarin''' ({{langx|ms-Arab|محمد فهمى رضا بن محمد زارين|label=Jawi}}; born 7 June 1977) is a Malaysian political graphic designer,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/10-things-about-fahmi-reza-designer-provocateur|title=10 things about: Fahmi Reza, designer provocateur|date=2014-10-19|website=themalaymailonline.com|access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref> street artist<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mashable.com/2016/06/07/fahmi-reza-charged/|title=Malaysia's 'Banksy' charged for his drawing of the prime minister as a clown|last=Ho|first=Victoria|website=Mashable|access-date=2016-06-20}}</ref> and documentary filmmaker.<ref name="DayLiem2010">{{cite book|author1=Tony Day|author2=Maya Hian Ting Liem|title=Cultures at War: The Cold War and Cultural Expression in Southeast Asia|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZqEv0lYg2egC&pg=PA259|year=2010|publisher=SEAP Publications|isbn=978-0-87727-781-1|pages=259–}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Malaysian Politicians Say the Darndest Things|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NaJj4pOCWdwC&pg=PT118|year=2007|publisher=MATAHARI BOOKS|isbn=978-983-43596-6-9|pages=118–}}</ref> He is best known for depicting Malaysia's sixth Prime Minister, Najib Razak, as a clown.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/malaysian-artist-fahmi-reza-charged-for-depicting-pm-najib-as-clown|title=Malaysian artist Fahmi Reza charged for depicting PM Najib as clown|date=6 June 2016|work=The Straits Times|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref> He is also known for portraying Malaysian politicians, whom most of them are accused to corruption charges in a satirical way and has seen been arrested multiple times since the clown portrayal of Najib.
==Early life and education== Mohd Fahmi Reza bin Mohd Zarin was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 7 June 1977. He received his Bachelor of Electrical Engineering (BEng) from the Vanderbilt University in 1999.
==Legal action== [[File:Artist_Fahmi_Reza_creating_artwork_of_Najib_Razak.jpg|thumb|Fahmi Reza creating his clown portrayal of Prime Minister Najib Razak]]
=== Clown caricature === On 6 June 2016, Fahmi was charged with 'violating multimedia laws' as a result of his clown caricature. He had created the image as a protest against prime minister Najib Razak, who has been facing allegations that billions of dollars were stolen from a state-owned development fund he oversees. Najib is also being accused of accepting a mysterious US$681 million overseas payment.<ref name="auto"/>
Earlier in the year, on 30 January, Fahmi had posted the sketch to his Twitter account with the caption: "In 2015, the Sedition Act was used 91 times. ''Tapi dalam negara yang penuh dengan korupsi, kita semua penghasut'' (But in a country full of corruption, we are all instigators).”<ref name="asiancorrespondent.com">{{cite web|url=https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/02/we-are-all-instigators-malaysian-graphic-artists-protest-against-corruption/|title='We are all instigators': Malaysian graphic artists protest against corruption|work=asiancorrespondent.com|accessdate=7 June 2016|archive-date=27 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160327133354/https://asiancorrespondent.com/2016/02/we-are-all-instigators-malaysian-graphic-artists-protest-against-corruption/|url-status=dead}}</ref> Police had earlier warned Fahmi that his Twitter account was under surveillance.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-35486530|title=PM left red nosed by censorship protest |publisher=BBC News|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref>
The charge was made possible under Section 233(1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,<ref name="themalaymailonline.com">{{cite web|date=6 June 2016|title=Fahmi Reza: Charging me for clown sketch shows it's effective (VIDEO)|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/fahmi-reza-charging-me-for-clown-sketch-shows-its-effective|work=themalaymailonline.com|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref> which forbids online content deemed to "annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass" others. Fahmi faces a possible one-year prison sentence and a substantial fine, according to his attorney, Syahredzan Johan.<ref name="auto" /> He may face another charge under the same section of the Act, for also creating a fake Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) poster bearing the clown caricature.<ref name="themalaymailonline.com" />
Fahmi was charged with violating the law prohibiting communications that cause annoyance, and has pleaded not guilty. As of 30 December 2016, he is out on bail awaiting trial.<ref>{{cite web|last=Ngui|first=Yantoultra|title=Malaysian Leader Najib Razak Promised Openness, but Dissent Over 1MDB Stifled|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/malaysian-leader-promised-openness-now-stifles-dissent-1483093803|work=The Wall Street Journal|accessdate=2016-12-31}}</ref> His lawyer, Syahredzan Johan, says he faces a possible one-year prison sentence and a fine.<ref>{{cite web|date=2016-06-06|title=Malaysian artist charged for depicting PM Najib Razak as clown |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-06-06/malaysian-artist-fahmi-reza-charged-for-depicting-pm-as-clown/7482710|publisher=ABC News|location=Australia|accessdate=2016-12-31}}</ref>
On 20 February 2018, Fahmi was sentenced to a month's jail and fined RM30,000 by the Sessions Court in Ipoh for a caricature depicting Najib as a clown. His lawyer Syahredzan Johan told ''Malaysiakini'' they will appeal the decision, and that a stay of execution of the sentence was granted with a bond of RM10,000.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-02-20|title=Artist gets a month's jail, RM30k fine for Najib clown drawing|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/412807|website=Malaysiakini}}</ref>
On 11 October 2018, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court acquitted and discharged Fahmi on a charge of uploading a caricature of Najib on his Instagram account.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-11|title=Fahmi Reza acquitted for publishing Najib caricature|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/446890|website=Malaysiakini}}</ref>
On 12 November 2018, the High Court in Ipoh set aside the prison sentence against Fahmi for uploading an offensive image of Najib on his social media account.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-11-12|title=Fahmi Reza escapes jail term, fine reduced over Najib caricature|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/451547|website=Malaysiakini}}</ref>
=== ''Kita Semua Penghasut'' T-shirts === On 4 June 2016, along with three other activists, Fahmi was arrested by police for selling ''#KitaSemuaPenghasut'' T-shirts at a shopping complex. The other three people arrested were event organiser Pang Khee Teik, community activist Lew Pik-Svonn and comic artist Arif Rafhan Othman.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/06/04/fahmi-reza-two-others-sedition/|title=Fahmi Reza, three others arrested over #KitaSemuaPenghasut t-shirts - Nation - The Star Online|work=thestar.com.my|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref> The three were being investigated for alleged offences under the Sedition Act 1948. Malaysia's National Human Rights Society (HAKAM) has condemned the arrests.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/stop-harassing-fahmi-reza-and-others-hakam|title=Stop harassing Fahmi Reza and others – HAKAM|date=7 June 2016|work=themalaymailonline.com|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref>
=== Insulting the Queen === On 23 April 2021, Fahmi was arrested for allegedly insulting the Queen of Malaysia, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, following queries on claims she received an unapproved COVID-19 jab.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Fahmi Reza arrested, Bukit Aman investigating case for alleged sedition|work=The Star Online|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/04/23/fahmi-reza-arrested-bukit-aman-investigating-case-for-alleged-sedition}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=21 April 2021|title='Dengki ke?': queen's comment inspires Fahmi Reza's 101-track Spotify playlist|url=https://www.thevibes.com/articles/news/24697/dengki-ke-queens-comment-inspires-fahmi-rezas-101-track-spotify-playlist|access-date=24 July 2021|website=The Vibes}}</ref> He was investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Fahmi Reza out on bail|work=New Straits Times|url=https://www.nst.com.my/news/crime-courts/2021/04/685296/fahmi-reza-out-bail}}</ref> This is because he created a Spotify playlist titled "This is Dengki ke?" (meaning "This is Jealous?") with the queen's portrait as the playlist's cover photo. The playlist is still accessible on Spotify and has 2,599 followers as of June 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|title=This Is Dengki Ke?|url=https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0XOOulZdEXAFDC7ZPHLQTO|access-date=2021-06-11|website=Spotify}}</ref> There are 101 songs in both Malay and English on that playlist and almost all the songs are related to the word "Jealousy". For example, the first song on the playlist is "Jealousy" by British rock band, Queen.
According to ''Malaysiakini,'' the Queen reportedly responded to a question about the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine at the palace with the words "Dengki ke?" (Meaning "Jealous?") on her Instagram account.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Fahmi kena cekup sebab senarai lagu Spotify bertema 'dengki ke' - Polis|work=Malaysiakini|url=https://www.malaysiakini.com/news/571958}}</ref> The Queen's response soon garnered a lot of attention and led to widespread criticism all over social media. Hence, Fahmi's playlists was taken to have been created for the purpose of mocking the Queen for her comment.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Fahmi Reza summoned by cops again over 2 new cases|work=Free Malaysia Today (FMT)|url=https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2021/04/30/fahmi-reza-summoned-by-cops-again-over-2-new-cases/}}</ref> However, he was released on bail a day later.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Fahmi Reza remanded a day in Spotify playlist probe|work=The Star|url=https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2021/04/24/fahmi-reza-remanded-a-day-in-spotify-playlist-probe}}</ref>
=== Musa Aman === On December 31, 2024, Fahmi has been detained and jailed under MCMC Multimedia Act, in the State of Sabah due to his controversial painting on 11th Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sabah, ''Tun Musa Aman''.<ref>[https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2024/12/1342911/fahmi-reza-ditahan-polis-sabah Fahmi Reza ditahan Polis Sabah]</ref> In May 29, 2025, Fahmi Reza was officially banned from entering the State of Sabah.<ref>[https://www.theborneopost.com/2025/05/29/activist-fahmi-reza-claims-banned-from-entering-sabah/ "Activist Fahmi Reza claims banned from entering Sabah" - By Borneo Post News]</ref>
==Activism== Fahmi says the charges demonstrate the effectiveness of the image, which he says expresses the idea that "the whole country has become the butt of a joke".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://theworld.org/stories/2016/03/30/malaysian-street-art-takes-official-corruption |title=Malaysian street artist makes a clown of prime minister | Public Radio International |publisher=Pri.org |date=2016-03-30 |access-date=2016-12-31}}</ref> He has vowed to keep posting satirical political images, and that he was prepared for any consequences. He says that the image “…connects with a lot of the people especially the younger generation, who are buying and wearing the T-shirts proudly, and sharing their photos wearing the T-shirts on their social media accounts".<ref name="themalaymailonline.com"/>
Other graphic artists have started creating their own versions of a clown-faced Najib, using the hashtag #KitaSemuaPenghasut ("We are all instigators").<ref name="asiancorrespondent.com"/> Fahmi stresses that his work generally skewers not just Najib but all sides of Malaysia's politics, where an ethnic Malay ruling elite is defending against a pan-racial opposition promising to end money politics and democratic abuses.<ref name="afp">{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/malaysian-punk-artist-clowns-scandal-hit-leader-044050262.html|title=Malaysian punk artist clowns with scandal-hit leader|agency=Agence France-Presse}}</ref>
As a filmmaker, Fahmi won the "Most Outstanding Human Rights Film" at the 2007 Freedom Film Fest, for his documentary, ''Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka'' (English: ''Ten Years Before Independence''), which he says presents a story about Malaysians' struggle for independence, and the contributions of the political left.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thesundaily.my/node/168636|title=The untold story of the hartal - theSundaily|work=thesundaily.my|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref>
He has frequently been banned from addressing students at the University of Malaya, on the subject of student activism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cijmalaysia.org/2014/10/31/banning-anwar-from-um-demonstrates-lack-of-academic-freedom/|title=Centre For Independent Journalism, Malaysia » Blog Archive » Banning Anwar from UM demonstrates lack of academic freedom|work=cijmalaysia.org|accessdate=7 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209094851/http://cijmalaysia.org/2014/10/31/banning-anwar-from-um-demonstrates-lack-of-academic-freedom/|archive-date=9 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> His activities have attracted the attention of media overseas, including The New York Times, VICE magazine and Le Figaro.<ref name="afp"/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/14/opinion/the-muzzling-of-the-malaysian-mind.html|title=The Muzzling of the Malaysian Mind|date=14 April 2016|work=The New York Times|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lefigaro.fr/culture/2016/06/06/03004-20160606ARTFIG00068-un-artiste-malaysien-risque-un-an-de-prison-pour-ses-caricatures.php|title=Un artiste malaisien risque un an de prison pour ses caricatures|last=lefigaro.fr|work=lefigaro.fr|accessdate=7 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/meet-the-artist-facing-off-against-malaysias-corrupt-prime-minister/|title=Meet the Malaysian Artist Fighting Government Corruption with a Cartoon|date=5 April 2016|work=VICE|access-date=27 June 2016}}</ref>
==See also== *Barack Obama "Joker" poster - political art with a similar motif *1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal
== References == <references />
==External links== * {{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Sn3C2QTeRs|title=10 Tahun Sebelum Merdeka (2007)|last=fahmireza|date=5 March 2012|accessdate=7 June 2016|via=YouTube}}
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Category:Malaysian cartoonists Category:Malaysian artists Category:Malaysian filmmakers Category:Living people Category:1977 births Category:Malaysian people of Malay descent Category:Malaysian Muslims Category:People from Kuala Lumpur Category:Street artists Category:Malaysian graphic designers