Fahmi Reza facts for kids

Mohd Fahmi Reza bin Mohd Zarin is a Malaysian artist, graphic designer, and filmmaker. He is known for using his art to comment on important topics in Malaysia. One of his most famous artworks showed Malaysia's former Prime Minister, Najib Razak, as a clown. Fahmi Reza often uses humor and satire in his art to make people think about politics and society. Because of his art, he has sometimes faced legal challenges.

Early Life and Education

Fahmi Reza was born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on June 7, 1977. He studied at Vanderbilt University and earned a degree in Electrical Engineering in 1999.

Art and Legal Challenges

Fahmi Reza uses his creative skills to make art that shares his views on political events. Sometimes, his art has led to legal discussions and court cases.

The Clown Caricature

Fahmi Reza creating his famous clown artwork of former Prime Minister Najib Razak.

In 2016, Fahmi Reza created a picture of former Prime Minister Najib Razak as a clown. He made this artwork to protest against claims that a lot of money was missing from a special fund. He also wanted to highlight accusations that the Prime Minister had received a large payment from overseas.

Fahmi shared this picture on his Twitter account. He added a message saying that in a country with many problems, everyone who speaks up is like an "instigator." Because of this artwork, Fahmi faced legal action. He was accused of breaking rules about online content that might upset others.

In 2018, a court in Ipoh ruled on the case. Fahmi Reza was given a fine and a short jail sentence for the clown picture. However, his lawyers appealed this decision. Later that year, a higher court in Kuala Lumpur cleared him of a similar charge related to the picture on his Instagram. Also, the High Court in Ipoh removed the jail sentence against him.

We Are All Instigators T-shirts

In June 2016, Fahmi Reza and three other activists were questioned by police. This happened because they were selling T-shirts that said #KitaSemuaPenghasut, which means "We Are All Instigators." These T-shirts were a way to spread the message from his earlier artwork. Human rights groups spoke out against these actions.

Art and Public Figures

In 2021, Fahmi Reza faced more legal questions after creating a Spotify playlist. The playlist had a picture of the Queen of Malaysia, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, as its cover. The playlist was titled "This is Dengki ke?" which means "This is Jealous?". This happened after the Queen reportedly made a comment about a COVID-19 vaccine. Fahmi Reza was questioned by authorities but was released on bail the next day.

In 2024, Fahmi Reza was questioned by authorities in the state of Sabah because of a painting he made of Musa Aman, a former leader of Sabah. In 2025, he was not allowed to enter the state of Sabah.

Activism and Influence

Fahmi Reza believes his art helps people understand important issues. He says that his clown image showed how many people felt that the country's situation was like a joke. He has promised to keep making art that comments on politics, even if it means facing challenges.

His work has inspired other artists to create their own versions of the clown image, using the hashtag #KitaSemuaPenghasut. Fahmi Reza's art often looks at different parts of Malaysian politics. He aims to encourage people to think about fairness and democracy.

As a filmmaker, Fahmi Reza also makes documentaries. In 2007, his film Sepuluh Tahun Sebelum Merdeka (meaning Ten Years Before Independence) won an award for being an outstanding human rights film. This movie tells the story of Malaysians' fight for independence.

Fahmi Reza's activities and art have gained attention from news outlets around the world, including The New York Times and VICE magazine.

See Also

• Barack Obama "Joker" poster - another example of political art
• 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal