KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 28, 2015:
Paintings, widely claimed to be that of the Yang Di Pertuan Agong, Raja Permaisuri Agong and Prime Minister by a local artist, have been making the rounds online, infuriating some Malaysians.
The catch? The artist, identified as Vincent Leong, drew the trio from the back, which according to the Malay culture shows disrespect.
However, it has to be noted that Leong never categorically stated who the figures in the painting were.
The paintings, which were displayed in Singapore during The Singapore Art Week held at the Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre building, seemed to have courted trouble for allegedly “insulting the royalties”.
Netizens were quick to take Leong to task, with one Twitter user, identified as Rosliza Hasan, urging Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi to act against the Malaysian artist.
Another, Wan Azizah, called Leong a scum who “should be thrown in the sea”.
Meanwhile, @Epul5113 tweeted: “I dare Vincent Leong to draw the king of Thailand in the same way, from the back”.
Insulting royalties in the country can lead to individuals being charged with sedition.
Just last year, activist Ali Abd Jalil was charged under the Sedition Act for insulting the Johor and Selangor Sultans.
In 2013, four people were hauled up after a Facebook account using the name Melissa Gooi was alleged to have issued statements insulting the speech of Tuanku Abdul Halim in conjunction with his birthday.