Comedy club co-founder nabbed over his own routines

KUALA LUMPUR: The 39-year-old co-founder of Crackhouse Comedy Club has been arrested in connection with videos of his own stand-up routines that allegedly insulted Islam.

Several police reports had been lodged against him. Lawyer Ramkarpal Singh confirmed that his client was arrested yesterday.

“Yes. He is in Dang Wangi (lockup). Tomorrow they will apply for the remand order. I believe he was arrested in connection with videos of his performances that have been circulated recently,” he said.

It is learnt that the man was detained at about 1.30pm yesterday by the Bukit Aman CID Special Investigation Unit.

It is also believed that he was arrested after he had given a statement to the police.

His arrest follows the arrest of Siti Nuramira Abdullah, 26, and her boyfriend V. Alexander Navin, 38.

The couple was charged after Siti Nuramira performed at the comedy club’s open mic night and then uploaded a video of the performance on social media.

Siti Nuramira was charged under Section 298A(1)(a) of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill-will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on the grounds of religion.

At the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court, Navin was slapped with two charges of making and sharing an offensive post on his Instagram account on June 5 and on his YouTube account on June 16.

Both pleaded not guilty.

Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Ahmad Marzuk Shaary said Siti Nuramira was also expected to be charged in the Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court soon.

“The government will not compromise on any actions that insult religion and threaten the harmony and unity of the people. Action will be taken based on the law,” he told Sinar Harian yesterday.