Arrested for Insulting Sanusi? You Must Be Joking

A Case of Satire Gone Wrong

When Kedah Menteri Besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor cracked an unfunny joke about signing up to get into containers meant to store bodies of Covid-19 victims, it riled many people.

critics let loose in reprimanding Sanusi for his insensitivity. One of them, a 61-year-old man, accused him of “displaying his stupidity for all to see”.

AKDAN Media Officer

Sanusi, who is no stranger to controversy, has since apologised for the gaffe, acknowledging that he had hurt the feelings of many.

Overreaction or Just Desserts?

Yet, at the time of this writing, the elderly man and three other people have been arrested for allegedly insulting him. This is unwarranted.

Sanusi maintains that he was innocently joking with reporters. Try telling that to the families of the people whose bodies are lined up in the morgue and piled up in containers.

FLawed Logic

Further, he believes it was nobody’s business but his and the reporters. According to him, the reporters laughed along with him. If that’s true, it’s probably because they didn’t want to get arrested.

A Culture of Silence?

The remarks from the critics were a response to an insensitive and, indeed, insulting attempt at being funny. Someone who is paid by taxpayers should not make light of tragedies whose victims are taxpayers, especially considering the sobering data Malaysians are fed with daily about the epidemic.

A Heavy Handed Approach

Knee-jerk insults, even harsh ones, in reaction to bizarre jokes are to be expected, especially from those who may have lost loved ones to the virus. You get as good as you give.

The Price of Satire

Seasoned politicians, such as Sanusi, should have by now become immune to name calling. As Sanusi himself has said, being reprimanded comes with the territory. True. And so do insults in response to insults.

Conclusion

The arrest of the elderly man and three others for allegedly insulting Sanusi is a heavy-handed approach. It is important to remember that satire is a tool that can be used to spark important conversations, but it is also important to consider the context and the audience.

FAQs

* What did Sanusi do that got him in trouble?
+ He cracked an unpopular joke about signing up to get into containers meant to store bodies of Covid-19 victims.
* Who was arrested for allegedly insulting Sanusi?
+ An elderly man and three other people
* Why do you think the arrests are unwarranted?
+ It is a reaction to an insensitive and insulting attempt at being funny, and it is not a justification for the kind of heavy-handed approach taken by the authorities.