A recent death threat against comedian Harith Iskander’s family has escalated a controversy that began with a seemingly innocuous social media post.
The deadly threat has forced the cancellation of Harith’s stand-up comic show scheduled for 25 January at the Petronas Philharmonic Hall. The event was to mark his 35 years of making people laugh.
The controversy originated from the ‘ham-and-cheese sandwich’ halal issue at KK Mart outlets on the University of Malaya campus.
Harith then posted a satirical comment about the use of the word ‘ham’ on his social media. This angered some individuals who did not think it was funny, prompting a fellow comedian to file a police report.
One thing led to another. And then came the death threat.
It appears that the safety of innocent people is now at risk – ‘collateral damage’ in a dispute over Harith’s satire, which for some, appeared to call on the nation to reflect on its reaction to the ham sandwich controversy.
While we appreciate the sensitivity of Muslims towards dietary restrictions, issuing a death threat takes it to a different level. It gives a wrong impression to the public over what is permissible and what is forbidden in Islam. After all, threatening physical harm, especially against innocent lives, contradicts the principles of Islam while failing to constructively enlighten people about the underlying issue.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a regular pledge or periodic auto-donation to Aliran
- Become an Aliran member
The controversy took an ugly turn when one of KK Mart’s outlets at the University of Malaya was vandalised, with red paint sprayed in front of the business premises.
The authorities must resolve this matter swiftly to prevent it from becoming fodder for those seeking to exploit tensions for their own ends.
Allowing the situation to fester could have serious implications for ethnic and religious relations, as well as democratic discourse.
The incident has sent ripples through the arts community, particularly among stand-up comedians. Extreme self-censorship might creep into an otherwise humorous script, turning it unfunny, while blunting any social commentary within it.
The usual practice of writing critical reviews in the press and elsewhere should not be overshadowed by overzealous acts driven by fury.
Disagreement over satire, whether funny or otherwise, should never be allowed to descend into violence or threats of violence. Instead, it should be resolved through dialogue, understanding and mutual respect.
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
