‘One wrong step’: Malaysia’s careful comedians lament narrowing space for laughter
Malaysian comedians claim the country is slipping into a "cancel culture" that threatens to silence satire and social commentary, with the government and social media playing a role. This trend is exemplified by the recent incident involving comedian Harith Iskander, who was questioned by police and religious authorities over a joke about ham on Facebook.
Harith, a 58-year-old Muslim comedian from Johor state, made the joke in a January 18 post on Facebook. He joked that the word "ham" in the name of an iced coffee drink could "lead me down the wrong path in so many ways", referencing a recent controversy over fake halal certification on pork products. This led to swift accusations of insulting Islam.
The incident highlights the increasing censorious nature of social media in Malaysia, which comedians say is stifling satire and social commentary. The government has been accused of contributing to this trend by monitoring and restricting free speech online. As a result, comedians are facing backlash for their jokes, with some facing death threats and others being questioned by authorities.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
Malaysian comedians claim the country is slipping into a "cancel culture" that threatens to silence satire and social commentary, with the government and social media playing a role. This trend is exemplified by the recent incident involving comedian Harith Iskander, who was questioned by police and religious authorities over a joke about ham on Facebook.
Harith, a 58-year-old Muslim comedian from Johor state, made the joke in a January 18 post on Facebook. He joked that the word "ham" in the name of an iced coffee drink could "lead me down the wrong path in so many ways", referencing a recent controversy over fake halal certification on pork products. This led to swift accusations of insulting Islam.
The incident highlights the increasing censorious nature of social media in Malaysia, which comedians say is stifling satire and social commentary. The government has been accused of contributing to this trend by monitoring and restricting free speech online. As a result, comedians are facing backlash for their jokes, with some facing death threats and others being questioned by authorities.
via SCMP Full Text Feed
