Singaporean-American comedian Jocelyn Chia is currently under investigation by the police in Singapore for potential violations related to incitement and offensive online content. This follows a joke she posted last week, which triggered an official protest from Malaysia and a subsequent apology from Singapore.
The controversial joke revolved around the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which went missing after departing from Kuala Lumpur in March 2014. Despite extensive search efforts conducted over four years in the Indian Ocean, the main wreckage of the plane and the 239 passengers and crew onboard were never located, leading to their presumed deaths.
Malaysian national police chief Acryl Sani Abdullah Sani announced on Tuesday that an application would be filed with Interpol to obtain Jocelyn Chia's "full identity" and her "latest location." The Malaysian authorities are seeking further information regarding the incident.
The dispute arose after Chia shared a clip from her recent stand-up performance at Manhattan's Comedy Cellar venue. In her routine, she touched upon the historical rivalry between Singapore and Malaysia, two countries that were once briefly united. Making reference to Singapore's progression as a "first-world country" in contrast to Malaysia's "developing" status, she jokingly commented that Malaysian airplanes "cannot fly." Chia also remarked, "Malaysian Airlines going missing not funny huh? Some jokes don't land."
The video, which sparked outrage in Malaysia, was subsequently removed by TikTok due to its violation of hate speech guidelines. The Singaporean ambassador to Malaysia emphasized that Chia's remarks did not represent the views of Singaporeans. Vivian Balakrishnan, Singapore's foreign minister, condemned the "horrendous statements" made by Chia.
Chia defended her joke in an interview with CNN, stating that she had performed the routine "more than 100 times" without encountering any issues. She maintained that the clip had been taken out of context and stood by her comedic approach.
As the investigation unfolds, both Singapore and Malaysia continue to grapple with the fallout from Chia's controversial joke, underscoring the sensitivity surrounding delicate historical and geopolitical topics.
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