Sabotage has dragged Crackhouse Comedy Club into gutter – comedy fraternity
Unacceptable for individual who performed contentious skit to disregard club regulations not to touch on royalty and religion
The individual in this case has ambushed not only the Crackhouse Comedy Club, but the entire stand-up comedy fraternity as it was a premeditated act aimed at sabotaging the club, and the entire fraternity, as she left the stage as such soon as she had disrobed. – Screen grab pic, July 12, 2022
ON July 11, 2022, the Crackhouse Comedy Club was sealed without prior written notice given to the management.
We, the undersigned, accept that the authorities have to investigate the actions of an individual who attended Crackhouse Comedy Club to perform.
However, the said individual committed an unacceptable act during the purported performance, and the said performance was recorded and released by the individual on her own social media accounts, without the knowledge and or permission of the Crackhouse Comedy Club.
This is an act of sabotage.
The Crackhouse Comedy Club’s reputation has been damaged by this person who appears to have her own agenda. The club was neither party to this nor did the management condone it.
It is standard operating procedure in all comedy venues to inform performers, including at open-mic nights, that there are two unassailable rules. Performers are not allowed to touch upon royalty and the royal institutions in Malaysia. And they are not allowed to touch on any religion.
The individual in this case disregarded these two rules despite being informed of the regulations. Her act is an ambush not only on the Crackhouse Comedy Club, but on the entire stand-up comedy fraternity as it was a premeditated act aimed at sabotaging the club, and the entire fraternity, as she left the stage as such soon as she had disrobed.
The Crackhouse Comedy Club took firm action by informing her that she had violated the rules and regulations of the club, and immediately banned her outright from the premises.
When it came to the attention of the management of the club that she herself had posted a video of what she did at the venue (and because it is the practice of the club to not allow recording devices), the management made a police report, and gave full cooperation to the investigators.
However, the deputy minister of Federal Territories announced that the Crackhouse Comedy Club’s licence was suspended on July 10, and on July 11, 2022, the premises were sealed by DBKL.
Now, while this individual is being investigated by the authorities, the club and the entire Malaysian stand-up comedy scene has been unduly dragged into the gutter by this person.
The management of the Crackhouse Comedy Club has never courted controversy. Stand-up comedians who perform there are allowed to perform like in all clubs. This is how many of the best local and international comedians have performed at this club.
The likes of Harith Iskander, Douglas Lim, Jason Leong, Nabil Ahmad, Mad Sabah, Nizam Jentik-Jentik, Kavin Jay, Kuah Jenhan, Ronny Chieng, and international performers Dara O'Brien, Peter Berner, Butch Bradley, Paul Ogata, Dilruk Jayasinha and many more stand-up artists of great calibre have graced the Crackhouse Comedy Club stage.
While we understand that some action needs to be taken, the act of sealing the Crackhouse Comedy Club and suspending its operating licence, without prior written notice, is highly prejudicial and unfair, given that the management of the Crackhouse Comedy Club is willing, and ready to give its full cooperation to the authorities in respect of the unacceptable act by the said individual.
We strongly urge the authorities to revoke the suspension of the Crackhouse Comedy Club’s licence, as this action is heavy-handed and without due process.
The individual’s unilateral actions have brought disrepute to a fledgling yet thriving stand-up comedy fraternity in Malaysia. In its eight years of existence, this type of incident has never once occurred at the Crackhouse Comedy Club.
We herewith urge the authorities to take stern action against the individual for any breach of the law, without penalising Crackhouse Comedy Club, who had no part to play in this individual’s actions, and was caught by surprise by the said action.
The Crackhouse Comedy Club is at all times law-abiding and has always hosted good, hardworking, aspiring comedians, who in turn to make intend to make an honest living through this artform.
The management of the Crackhouse Comedy Club will continue to work with the authorities and DBKL to resolve all pending matters including its licensing status.
We stand in solidarity with the Crackhouse Comedy Club. – The Vibes, July 12, 2022
Rizal Van Geyzel and Shankar R. Santhiram are co-founders of Crackhouse Comedy Club. This statement is also co-signed by Harith Iskander, Douglas Lim, Jason Leong Say Keong, Andrew Netto, Shamaine Othman, Kavin Jayaram, Phoon Chi Ho, Kuah Jenhan, Papi Zak, Prakash Daniel, Joanne Kam, Achmad Rusli @ Mad Sabah, Farid Azmeir, Keren Bala Devan, and Muhd Fadzri @ Fakkah Fuzz
ON July 11, 2022, the Crackhouse Comedy Club was sealed without prior written notice given to the management.
We, the undersigned, accept that the authorities have to investigate the actions of an individual who attended Crackhouse Comedy Club to perform.
However, the said individual committed an unacceptable act during the purported performance, and the said performance was recorded and released by the individual on her own social media accounts, without the knowledge and or permission of the Crackhouse Comedy Club.
This is an act of sabotage.
The Crackhouse Comedy Club’s reputation has been damaged by this person who appears to have her own agenda. The club was neither party to this nor did the management condone it.
It is standard operating procedure in all comedy venues to inform performers, including at open-mic nights, that there are two unassailable rules. Performers are not allowed to touch upon royalty and the royal institutions in Malaysia. And they are not allowed to touch on any religion.
The individual in this case disregarded these two rules despite being informed of the regulations. Her act is an ambush not only on the Crackhouse Comedy Club, but on the entire stand-up comedy fraternity as it was a premeditated act aimed at sabotaging the club, and the entire fraternity, as she left the stage as such soon as she had disrobed.
The Crackhouse Comedy Club took firm action by informing her that she had violated the rules and regulations of the club, and immediately banned her outright from the premises.
When it came to the attention of the management of the club that she herself had posted a video of what she did at the venue (and because it is the practice of the club to not allow recording devices), the management made a police report, and gave full cooperation to the investigators.
However, the deputy minister of Federal Territories announced that the Crackhouse Comedy Club’s licence was suspended on July 10, and on July 11, 2022, the premises were sealed by DBKL.
Now, while this individual is being investigated by the authorities, the club and the entire Malaysian stand-up comedy scene has been unduly dragged into the gutter by this person.
The management of the Crackhouse Comedy Club has never courted controversy. Stand-up comedians who perform there are allowed to perform like in all clubs. This is how many of the best local and international comedians have performed at this club.
The likes of Harith Iskander, Douglas Lim, Jason Leong, Nabil Ahmad, Mad Sabah, Nizam Jentik-Jentik, Kavin Jay, Kuah Jenhan, Ronny Chieng, and international performers Dara O'Brien, Peter Berner, Butch Bradley, Paul Ogata, Dilruk Jayasinha and many more stand-up artists of great calibre have graced the Crackhouse Comedy Club stage.
While we understand that some action needs to be taken, the act of sealing the Crackhouse Comedy Club and suspending its operating licence, without prior written notice, is highly prejudicial and unfair, given that the management of the Crackhouse Comedy Club is willing, and ready to give its full cooperation to the authorities in respect of the unacceptable act by the said individual.
We strongly urge the authorities to revoke the suspension of the Crackhouse Comedy Club’s licence, as this action is heavy-handed and without due process.
The individual’s unilateral actions have brought disrepute to a fledgling yet thriving stand-up comedy fraternity in Malaysia. In its eight years of existence, this type of incident has never once occurred at the Crackhouse Comedy Club.
We herewith urge the authorities to take stern action against the individual for any breach of the law, without penalising Crackhouse Comedy Club, who had no part to play in this individual’s actions, and was caught by surprise by the said action.
The Crackhouse Comedy Club is at all times law-abiding and has always hosted good, hardworking, aspiring comedians, who in turn to make intend to make an honest living through this artform.
The management of the Crackhouse Comedy Club will continue to work with the authorities and DBKL to resolve all pending matters including its licensing status.
We stand in solidarity with the Crackhouse Comedy Club. – The Vibes, July 12, 2022
Rizal Van Geyzel and Shankar R. Santhiram are co-founders of Crackhouse Comedy Club. This statement is also co-signed by Harith Iskander, Douglas Lim, Jason Leong Say Keong, Andrew Netto, Shamaine Othman, Kavin Jayaram, Phoon Chi Ho, Kuah Jenhan, Papi Zak, Prakash Daniel, Joanne Kam, Achmad Rusli @ Mad Sabah, Farid Azmeir, Keren Bala Devan, and Muhd Fadzri @ Fakkah Fuzz
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