He said this would also give the public the impression that live performances can be cancelled anytime the authorities receive police reports made against the artistes.

“I am disappointed that the permit for Sharul Channa, a prominent stand-up comedian, was cancelled at the eleventh hour and disrupted the comedy show at the PJ Live Arts.

“Moreover, the permit was cancelled despite Sharul assuring that her latest show here would not touch on 3R (religion, royalty and race) issues,” Lee said in a statement today.

Yesterday, FMT reported that Sharul’s scheduled performance was cancelled following police reports over an old video of her stand-up routine from 2018 in which she touched on a 3R issue.

Laugh Labs Entertainment, the organiser for the show, said the communications ministry cancelled Sharul’s work visa despite all the necessary permits and approvals having been applied for and received a week before starting ticket sales.

“It is only in the last 24 hours that these reports from some members of the public came in, referencing old content that has been on Comedy Central Asia and posted online for a few years now.

“We did our best to put in an appeal but, unfortunately, we’ve been informed that Sharul will not be able to perform this weekend,” Phoon Chi Ho, the CEO of the company, said in a statement that was shared by Sharul on her Instagram page.

The video in question, a snippet from “Comedy Central: Stand Up Asia 2”, showed Sharul talking about the Malaysian authorities sending “content police” to ensure her material did not touch on alcohol or dogs.

Lee also urged the government to protect the country’s multicultural background and “spaces for cultural and religious exchanges”.

“The unity government should stand firm to protect the unique multicultural background and openness that made Malaysia what it is today. Rationality must prevail when it comes with a sense of humour,” he added.