Preacher nabbed for allegedly insulting constitutional monarchy

KUALA LUMPUR: Penang Chief Minister’s office information chief Wan Ji Wan Hussin is being investigated over an alleged viral clip, which saw him insulting the Malaysian constitutional monarchy.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said police had received at least two reports on the newly appointed information officer.

He said Wan Ji is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948.

“Police arrested him after Friday prayers at Masjid Sembilang in Seberang Jaya at 2.45pm,” Fuzi said.

He was speaking to reporters after attending the retirement ceremony for the former Strategic Resources and Technology Department director Datuk Seri Abd Manan Mohd Hassan, here, yesterday.

In the two-minute-and-45-second long video, Wan Ji was allegedly heard as saying that the disadvantages of having a monarchy system outweighed the advantages.

In George Town, state deputy police chief Datuk Roslee Chik said Wan Ji, who is a PKR member, had since been transferred to Kuala Lumpur as the investigation paper into his case was opened there.

“Wan Ji was transferred to Kuala Lumpur about 7pm. His remand order will be made there,” he said.

“It (his arrest) has something to do with a talk where he had hit out at the government and the royalty,” he added.

The preacher from Kelantan was appointed Penang’s information officer late last month to help the state counter attacks that it was anti-Malay and anti-Islam.

Wan Ji was transferred to Kuala Lumpur about 7pm. His remand order will be made there.

DATUK ROSLEE CHIK Penang deputy police chief

Wan Ji, a 35-year-old father of four, is a graduate in Shariah Islammiyah at the Al-Azhar University in Egypt.

State PKR Youth chief Asrol Sani Abdul Razak, who witnessed the arrest, called for solidarity in support of Wan Ji.

He said there was a group of policemen waiting for Wan Ji after he finished delivering the sermon.