Malaysian Government Claims Insulting The Queen With A Spotify Playlist Is A Threat To National Security
from the to-be-fair,-your-highness,-it-does-have-some-absolute-bangers dept
The government of Malaysia has never been shy about censoring uppity citizens for doing things like, say, exposing massive government corruption. But it also has some royalty to shield from the content created by disgruntled citizens. That's why it recently welcomed a "fake news" law into the fold, giving the government (and the royalty it ultimately serves) yet another censorial weapon to deploy.
A local artist is the latest under the jackboot, accused of making Queen Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah feel bad by compiling a [checks report] Spotify playlist.
Malaysian police arrested an artist on Friday for allegedly insulting the queen by posting a satirical playlist online.
The playlist riffed off a recent controversy over the royal family and coronavirus vaccines.
The artist was detained for uploading a playlist featuring a portrait of the queen and songs that included the word "jealously," senior police official Huzir Mohamed said in a statement.
Fahmi Reza actually had to take his seditious business to Apple after Spotify kept taking down his playlist. It's still up at Apple Music for the moment (archived here) and it contains plenty of songs containing variations of the word "jealous."
Yeah, it's kind of just one joke, really. But it's obviously an effective one. The playlist turns the Queen's dismissive response to concerned subjugates against her. According to local reports, the Queen secured COVID vaccines for herself and her family through some powerful United Arab Emirates connections. When residents complained, the Queen pithily asked them if they were "jealous."
So, obviously a deserving target of criticism. But when the most deserving target has all the power, things tend to turn out badly for those doing the criticizing. Somehow, this jealousy-focused playlist threatens the security of the Malaysian people.
Fahmi was being investigated for breaking Malaysia's sedition and communications laws. He faces up to three years if convicted under the act, Huzir said.
"Tough action will be taken without any compromise against anyone who intentionally threatens public security," the police official added.
Three years for a one-joke playlist. And it makes the point with all the subtlety a 101-song playlist composed with the assistance of a single search term can. But equally unsubtle is the government's response. Insulting the royal family may be bad form but it shouldn't be illegal. And this definitely doesn't threaten the security of the nation. It only highlights the insecurity of the family sitting at the top of the country's org chart.
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Filed Under: fahma reza, free speech, insults, malaysia, playlist, queen, sedition, tunku azizah aminah maimunah
Companies: apple, spotify
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Please upload that list
Once in a while, maybe you will feel the urge
To mock Malaysia's royal family
By uploading poignant lists to song streaming sites
Like Apple Music, Tidal, Magnavox or Spotify
But it's just a joke, and you know they love a laugh
And there won't be repercussions for you
'Cause there's no thought of jealousy, and they won't feel insecure
And no-one's going to spend the next three years behind bars
So please upload that list
You know the Queen will not feel miffed
They just jumped the queue like you know that they should
Oh please upload that list
Also I love the length of the song list - lol
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Re: Please upload that list
But how else would the Queen be able to afford another solid gold Humvee?
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If that threatens there national security...
Then maybe all I need to take over the country is a group of mean teenagers!
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Playlist items
Is the playlist still up? If so, I wonder if the playlist has Natalie Merchant's "Jealousy" or the Gin Blossoms' "Hey Jealousy"…
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Re: Playlist items
Update: Both of them are in the playlist! I'm 2 for 2!
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Re: Playlist items
Or one for follicle coveters, https://www.quora.com/What-s-song-lyrics-did-you-sing-incorrectly-and-when-you-found-out-you-were-mi nd-blown-or-insistent-that-the-correct-lyrics-are-incorrect
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Re: Re: Playlist items
I never could figure out what Macbeth's poor cat was doing in the cabbage.
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What happens if we insult that gas bag with a YouTube play list?
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With apologies to Farrokh Bulsara
Spotify threatens National Security?
Court doesn't like, mocking the Royal Family
"Don't criticise, She's fighting the disease"
It's just a playlist, of songs about jealousy
Because it's just a joke, let it go, it's parody, don't you know
Any way the song goes, we've really upset the Queen, the Queen
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Go ahead.
Shut the people up.
Dont listen to them.
Let them sit in the dark discussing things.
Things you may not like, but now they dont say things in the light.
More and more add to this great feature, never telling you
Of the future you will hold.
Little or not.
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