KOTA BELUD – Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri (ANAK NEGERI) questioned the motive of the Keningau Native Court to file a case demanding compensation from Fahmi Reza, a controversial graphic designer, for allegedly publishing a caricature of a political figure allegedly to have insulted the Momogun native community.
Ms. Priskila Akwila Sinem, who is the appointed Deputy Chief Coordinator for Parti Kerjasama Anak Negeri Kota Belud, said she views the caricature resembling a known political figure as a mere political statement against corruption.
She said the people of Sabah, especially the younger generation, were tired and wary of the widespread corruption involving political leaders and civil servants in Sabah.
According to Priskila, Fahmi’s caricature actually represents the voice of all Sabahans who are not satisfied with the lack of action by the authorities on corruption in high places.
She said ANAK NEGERI upholds the principle of freedom of speech and therefore defends Fahmi’s right as an ordinary Malaysian to exercise his right to speak out against corruption.
“Fahmi has the right to make a political statement against corruption through caricature,” she said.
Priskila disagreed with the action taken by the Keningau Native Court, which, according to her, can be considered an abuse of the legal process under the Native Court Ordinance.
“As a member of the Dusun Momogun community in Sabah, I am not influenced, nor am I offended by Fahmi’s caricature, which to me is just a political statement to fight corruption.”
Priskila questioned whether or not the Keningau Native Court has jurisdiction over civil cases under the Native Court Ordinance.
Priskila also said she doubted the Keningau Native Court has the legal standing to represent the Momogun community in the matter, which is clearly outside the jurisdiction of the Native Court Ordinance.
Priskila, who is a lawyer from Kota Belud, said the legal suit against Fahmi Reza by the Keningau Native Court is clearly outside the jurisdiction of the Native Court Ordinance.
He said Section 9 of the Native Court Ordinance 1992 states that the Native Court does not have jurisdiction over any power or matter within the jurisdiction of the Syariah Court or the Civil Court.
She said the public also fully understood that Fahmi Reza’s case had nothing to do with the laws or customs of the Sabah Native community because it was merely a caricature, perhaps a political statement criticising the widespread existence of corruption in Sabah.
She reiterated her position that Fahmi’s caricature does not insult, nor violate or degrade the customs and dignity of the Sabah Native community.
“Whether or not the caricature insults someone’s personality and is considered malicious, any individual who feels aggrieved can take legal action under the civil laws, not under Native laws,” said Priskila.
“Sabah youths like me have a strong feeling and worry about the effects of the culture of corruption on the economy and the future well-being of the State and people of Sabah.”
“Corruption involving political leaders and corrupt public officials in collusion with greedy and crooked businessmen always results in economic leakage due to the huge waste of public assets and valuable natural resources.”
She said corruption could explain why Sabah’s economy is relatively unstable, why Sabah has the highest poverty rate in the country, the highest unemployment rate, and the failure to implement rural infrastructure projects.
She said the people of Sabah were angry because of the economic leakage where billions of Ringgit in development funds entrusted to the Sabah State Government every year were wasted and squandered due to corruption.
“I am speaking out for the first time on the issue of corruption because I want to highlight the issue of corruption or raise the political awareness of young people in Sabah.”
“I want to add my small voice to efforts to fight corruption in Sabah,” said Priskila, who is a Tempasuk community organiser and an emerging young woman leader from Kota Belud.
