Yo dawg, saying ‘anjay’ as a slur is apparently a crime

Calling someone a colloquial variant of the Indonesian word for dog may be a crime in Indonesia, a child protection commission took the pain to point out over the weekend, because it seems we don’t have more pressing things to worry about during this pandemic.

The National Commission for the Protection of Children (Komnas PA) on Saturday issued a statement calling for an end to the use of the word anjay — which is, arguably, a milder variation of the word anjing (dog).

Saying anjay as an insult or a slur, Komnas PA argued, constitutes verbal violence or “bullying” and is therefore a criminal violation of Law No. 35/2014 on Child Protection. The specific sanction for the violation was not mentioned in the statement.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CEdc53-gczA/

To be fair, Komnas PA acknowledged that context plays an important role in determining the meaning of anjay, like how it can be used to convey camaraderie between close friends or even praise. However, because of the possible negative connotation of the word, it’s best to avoid saying it altogether.

Needless to say, Komnas PA practically issued a come-and-parody-me plea with its statement.

https://twitter.com/indrianiindah3/status/1300282003086954496?s=20

“I’m in prison for live streaming on YouTube. What about you?”

“I’m in here for saying anjay.”

https://twitter.com/nobl3pure/status/1300283576651378689?s=20

Some pointed out that anjay isn’t even the most offensive colloquial variation of the word anjing.

anjay is not only option pic.twitter.com/yxFqtLji1k

— beby (@mizaraty) August 30, 2020

The ridicule was such that even the state-sponsored Commission for the Protection of Indonesian Children (KPAI), which is often confused with the independent Komnas PA, as it has been in this case, has distanced itself from the statement. 

However, KPAI says it is currently investigating a complaint by a YouTuber named Lutfi Agizal, who previously accused two fellow influencers of saying anjay as a slur and also called for others to stop saying the word.

It’s understood that Lutfi’s complaint drove Komnas PA to issue its statement in the first place.

If saying anjay worries you now, may we suggest saying “dawg” instead? Though in English, the word has ample similarities to anjay, and, as far as we can tell, has not been criminalized. Yet.