Father Terong: Blah, blah, blah.

Kid: Ha, ha, ha, hi, hi, hi, cool, really funny.

Mother: His criticisms are hurting my stomach... top standup comedy, ha, ha, ha.

Kid: Dad's even funnier, more critical than the comic Pandji! Love it!!!

Mother: But for the sake of keeping the peace with our neighbours, it's enough that you just be a comic at home... okay???

Comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono has been reported to police over material in his stand-up comedy special Mens Rea, igniting debate over the limits of satire, free expression and the application of Indonesia's new Criminal Code.

The controversy centres on jokes and social criticism Pragiwaksono delivered during his Mens Rea performance at the Indonesia Arena in Jakarta on August 30, 2025. The show, which began streaming on Netflix on December 27, later went viral on social media in early 2026, drawing backlash from several groups who accused the comic of insulting public officials, religious organisations and state institutions.

Youth wings affiliated with Indonesia's two largest Islamic mass organisations, Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) and Muhammadiyah, formally reported Pragiwaksono to the Jakarta police on January 8, accusing him of incitement, blasphemy and defamation under multiple articles of Indonesia's new Criminal Code (KUHP).

The complainants said the material – particularly jokes criticising NU and Muhammadiyah over their involvement in mining concessions granted by the government – contained unfounded allegations that could mislead the public and trigger social unrest.

Former Constitutional Court judge Mahfud MD however has publicly defended Pragiwaksono arguing that he cannot be prosecuted under the new KUHP because the jokes were made before the law took effect on January 2, and therefore he cannot be punished retroactively.

"Calling someone sleepy is not an insult", Mahfud added, referring to a joke by Pragiwaksono likening Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka to someone who looked sleepy.

Mahfud also warned that some provisions in the new KUHP could threaten freedom of expression and called for a judicial review to prevent democratic backsliding. He even said he would personally defend Pragiwaksono if the case goes to trial.

Pragiwaksono himself has sought to ease the situation saying on social media that he respects the right of any group to file a police report and will comply with the legal process if summoned. "That's their right", he said. "[But] I also have the right to express criticism, including toward the government, through comedy".

[Abridged from a Jakarta Globe article titled Stand-up or stand trial? Pandji's Netflix set lands in hot water".]