'Are you setting up handphone shop?' Influencer blasts Fahmi, MCMC boss after being summoned for sharing news report

A prominent government critic and social media influencer today staged a show of defiance outside the headquarters of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) after being summoned for questioning by the internet regulator for sharing a news report on her social media.

Accompanied by fellow activists who set up a loudspeaker outside the MCMC compound in Putrajaya, Syarul Ema Rena Abu Samah, better known as Ratu Naga, warned Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil and MCMC chairman Salim Fateh Din that she would not be silenced by their actions.

"What have Fahmi Fadzil and Salim Fateh achieved in these three years that we can be proud of? Nothing!

"Do you think if you keep doing this, we will remain silent? If one Ratu Naga is taken down, a thousand Ratu Nagas will emerge," she said after being questioned by MCMC. "How many phones have you seized? Are you opening a handphone shop?"

Contacted by MalaysiaNow, Ratu Naga said her mobile phone was confiscated by MCMC, but she refused to provide officers with the security password as it contained private information.

Best known for her slapstick comments about Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's government, Ratu Naga is no stranger to being summoned by MCMC, and her TikTok accounts have been removed by the agency numerous times.

This time, however, she was questioned for merely sharing a news report originally published by the Philippine government's news agency PNA, which stated that the country had imported more than 52 million litres of diesel from Malaysia.

Putrajaya denied the April 11 report titled "DOE: 239k barrels of diesel from Malaysia arrive in PH", stating the fuel shipment was not of Malaysian origin but sold by a Singapore-based company.

Criticism or comments on matters related to fuel have become more sensitive recently for Anwar's government, who for more than two decades as opposition leader had called for cheaper fuel due to Malaysia's status as a net oil exporter, making it a key promise at every general election.

But with blanket diesel subsidies removed by his government in 2024, followed by limits on petrol subsidies, the real impact is now being felt by Malaysians amid the US-Israeli war on Iran. Diesel pump prices reached a historic high of RM6.72 per litre in mid-April, triggering a series of price hike announcements.

Emotional toll

Ratu Naga today said authorities were using agencies whose manpower could have been deployed to tackle crimes and online scams.

"If I said something wrong, then sue me, but what did you do? You used MCMC, you used the police to disrupt my life.

"Do you think the police and MCMC have no other work? They also have jobs, to go after scammers, and the police have to manage high crime rates," she said.

She said the constant harassment from MCMC has taken an emotional toll on her.

"You have pushed me to the wall, as if we are all just playthings for you."

She then read from a medical report to show how the repeated summons by MCMC, as well as the confiscation of her mobile phones, has affected her mental and emotional health.

Ratu Naga also announced the formation of the People's Opposition Movement, to be headed by Sungai Buloh PAS chief Zaharudin Muhammad.

The new movement brings together activists and influencers. Ratu Naga said its first task was to organise a nationwide campaign to lodge police reports against Anwar, and to press for the prime minister to be investigated under the Sedition Act.

She said this was the same law used against another social media influencer recently, believed to be referring to TikToker Emeela Mat Sam or Myla, who was remanded for three days over a video criticising the prime minister.

"So we hope the same investigation will be carried out on Anwar for mocking the people," she added.