Global Courant
Malaysia has convicted a Singapore-born comedian who joked about the 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 during a skit in the United States
FILE – A man walks past a sign that reads “Pray for MH370” for passengers aboard a missing Malaysia Airlines plane, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on March 15, 2014. The Government of Malaysia issued an injunction on Thursday, June 8, 2023 Singapore-born stand-up comedian who mocked Malaysia and made fun of the 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 during a skit in the United States. (AP Photo/Lai Seng Sin, File)
The associated press
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Malaysian officials on Thursday sentenced a Singapore-born stand-up comedian who mocked Malaysia and mocked the 2014 disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 during a skit in the United States.
Jocelyn Chia posted her act on social media, sparking outrage in Malaysia and prompting Singaporean officials to quickly apologize. Chia made rude remarks about Malaysia, which she said fell far behind Singapore after the two separated in 1965.
She joked about the fact that Malaysian planes couldn’t fly, leaving the audience gasping. Chia continued: “Why? The Malaysian Airlines missing is not funny, is it? Some jokes don’t land.”
Flight MH370 was carrying 239 people from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing when it disappeared on March 8, 2014 and is believed to have crashed in the southernmost Indian Ocean.
Malaysian Foreign Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir said Chia’s act “showed a total lack of sensitivity and empathy” towards Malaysians and the families of the victims.
“This video also clearly shows behavior that goes against the values of Asian countries known for their manners and morals,” he said in a statement.
Singapore’s Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan apologized on Twitter on Thursday. He said he was shocked by Chia’s “horrific statements” and that Chia does not speak for Singaporeans.
“We cherish our ties to family and friends in Malaysia, and we are sorry for the offense and pain caused to all Malaysians,” he said.
Singapore officials said Chia was no longer a citizen. The Singapore Straits Times reported that she is now a US citizen. After the backlash, the video appeared to have been removed from some of Chia’s social media, but could still be found on some sites.
A Malaysian social news portal, the World of Buzz, reported that Chia was defiant. She had previously posted on social media in response to criticism that “people take jokes way too seriously,” it says. Chia added that “tragedy + time = comedy” and said the joke was acceptable because it’s been long enough since the incident, the site reported. Her comments were later inaccessible.
Scattered pieces of debris that washed up on African beaches and Indian Ocean islands indicated that MH370 likely crashed in a remote stretch of the ocean. But a government search of Australia, Malaysia and China turned up no location. And a second, private investigation by US company Ocean Infinity found no sign of a possible crash site.
