Azmi uses humour to break stigma

Azmi Saat, the 39-year-old Caliph Buskers frontman and visually impaired singer, is using his disability as a source of humor to break down stigma. The Caliph Buskers frontman finds humor in self-deprecating jokes, even though he fears they might be too sensitive for his audience. He expresses gratitude when listeners accept his jokes without finding them belittling or excessive, indicating a more open-minded Malaysian society.

Azmi believes his light-hearted approach has helped dismantle the long-standing stigma that disabled individuals are overly sensitive about their condition. He wants to encourage society to be more courageous in interacting with the disabled community, emphasizing that they are perfectly fine with joking about their conditions. Azmi does not pity himself or assume he is not happy, but rather uses self-deprecating humor as a unique way to connect with others.

He emphasizes that self-deprecating humor is his strength, not an attempt to demean himself or others. Azmi believes that highlighting their deficiencies can make people think, “Oh, that’s possible?” The humor works best the first time; repetition diminishes its comedic value. Azmi has previously gained attention on the Internet with his humorous social media posts, such as a cheeky review of a beach resort stay in Port Dickson, where he humorously demanded a refund for a promised sea-view balcony.