Tiga pelakon teater ditahan persenda Rukun Negara

KUALA LUMPUR, 23 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Kuala Lumpur — Three theatre actors were detained by the Royal Malaysia Police on Monday to assist in an investigation into a 2018 performance allegedly mocking the Rukun Negara, the country’s five principles of national unity.

The move follows the recent viral spread of video clips from the performance, which had been originally uploaded to Instagram by The Fever Kinetic Theatre Company to mark Malaysia Day. The footage, which has since been deleted, depicts five actors representing various ethnic groups in Malaysia reciting the Rukun Negara while making statements that authorities claim touch on racial sensitivities.

The sudden surge in public attention to the 2018 event has prompted law enforcement to revisit the matter, leading to the immediate detention of the three surviving and located suspects.

M Kumar, the Director of the Criminal Investigation Department at Bukit Aman, confirmed that all three suspects, who are aged between 28 and 47, were subsequently released on police bail. Kumar stated that out of the five actors originally identified in the performance, one has passed away, while another is believed to be residing in the United Kingdom based on immigration records.

This distinction highlights the logistical challenges faced by investigators in pursuing a case that spans multiple jurisdictions and involves individuals who are no longer present in the country.

The police investigation is being conducted under multiple legal frameworks, reflecting the complex nature of the alleged offenses. Kumar indicated that beyond the potential element of sedition, the incident is being examined under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. This specific section addresses the misuse of network facilities in an improper manner, suggesting that the digital dissemination of the video is a central component of the current legal proceedings.

The dual approach shows the authorities’ focus on both the content of the performance and the method of its distribution.

The Fever Kinetic Theatre Company, a group reported to have been founded by a Malaysian choreographer and operating in both Malaysia and London, issued a statement on September 20 acknowledging the controversy. In a post on Instagram, the company stated that it was aware the clip had spread and claimed it had been taken out of context in certain instances.

The group emphasized that it takes the raised concerns seriously and is examining the matter carefully. The company also disclosed that it has engaged legal counsel to advise all parties, including its team members, and indicated it would provide further updates if deemed appropriate.

Contextualizing the original intent of the performance, the deleted Instagram caption from The Fever Kinetic described the production as using the Rukun Negara as a mirror to confront hypocrisy. The text questioned uncomfortable aspects of race, identity, and the narratives Malaysians tell themselves to feel better about who they are. It argued that theatre should be a space for truth, discomfort, and questions that others do not wish to ask.

The caption further posed rhetorical questions about what happens when theatre becomes an “echo chamber,” where only works that reinforce existing beliefs are staged, and audiences are never challenged but merely given comfort.

The legal timeline for the case began earlier this month when Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Fadil Marsus stated that an initial report regarding the clip was filed at the Jalan Tun Razak Police Station on September 18. This report triggered the subsequent investigation that culminated in the Monday detentions.

The rapid progression from a social media post to a formal police investigation involving detentions illustrates the heightened sensitivity surrounding issues of national unity and racial harmony in Malaysia.

The case now moves into a phase where legal proceedings will determine the validity of the charges under the Communications and Multimedia Act and potential sedition laws. The involvement of international elements, specifically the suspect believed to be in the United Kingdom, may complicate the investigation further.

As the three detained actors have been released on bail, the focus shifts to the ongoing legal review by the theatre company’s lawyers and the police’s continued examination of the digital evidence. The outcome of this case is likely to set a precedent for how artistic expression intersecting with national symbols is handled under Malaysian law.

Related: The Fever Kinetic Theatre Company · Bukit Aman · M Kumar · Kuala Lumpur