KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 10 — When it comes to finding material for his political humour, stand-up comedian Ayim Razak said that all he has to do is to look at whatever Perikatan Nasional (PN) is doing.
Most of Ayim’s material pokes fun at PN, but he told Malay Mail that he is not completely a Pakatan Harapan (PH) supporter as he would still make fun of the latter if they were to make mistakes as well.
"If you ask me how I get material for politics, honestly I just look at what PN is doing because everything the party does is funny.
"For it, I have ‘unlimited bullets’,” he said.
To him, the political world is one that is cruel, strange, and hilarious as politicians can be seen arguing in Parliament one day and sitting at the same table laughing the next.
"But why do those of us who are below them become so obsessed till we fight?” he asked.
Previously he did not focus on political humour, but after a routine of his on Kelantan's tap water went viral, he received threats from PAS supporters who also claimed he was a DAP puppet for his perceived slight against the Islamist party's for its administration of the state.
"In fact, I only reprimanded Kelantan's tap water, not any party, but I continued to be labeled as such,” he said.
That is when Ayim decided to go on with creating routines that included political commentary.
He said his videos after that on PAS and Coldplay as well as the claim that Penang belongs to Kedah received extraordinary coverage.
In May, PAS central working committee member Nasrudin Hassan took to Facebook to call for the cancellation of the British rock band's concert.
He also posted photos of Coldplay’s frontman, Chris Martin, holding up the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) flag at a concert in London.
That same month, caretaker Kedah menteri besar Datuk Seri Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor claimed that Penang rightly belonged to his state.
Ayim's brand of stand-up comedy could be seen as a commentary on local politics, he said, adding that politics usually affects the public and is a relatable topic for many.
"My main goal remains the same: to make jokes. But if my jokes can cause me to be reprimanded for touching on local politics then I think it’s a good thing.
"I am also a Malaysian and have the right to speak, as do other Malaysians,” he said.
Aside from politics, he said he also finds inspiration in his personal experiences and common experiences among Malaysians.
He revealed that once he has written a complete routine, he tests it out at an open mic event, which he calls a comedian’s gym.
"If you want a great body, you must work out at the gym, right?
"It’s the same for stand-up comedians and open mic events,” he said.
Ayim has established the Persatuan Komedi Melayu Malaysia along with his friends and fellow stand-up comedians Rayza Mukmin, Mohd Nornizam Mohd Yusof (Nizam Jentik-Jentik), Hilmy Ashley, and Achmad Rusli (Mad Sabah), among others.
The reason for the formation of the association is to gather and birth more comedians in the country, he said.
He also recently performed onstage at a Geng Perpaduan (GP) event. GP is an initiative that the unity government reportedly launched earlier this year as a new platform for the youth movements of the unity government coalition parties in an effort to convince young voters.
