Police reports lodged over Al Jazeera documentary
KUALA LUMPUR: Police issued a warning yesterday that no party will escape action if they attempt to tarnish Malaysia’s image.
Referring to a documentary titled Locked up in Malaysia’s lockdown by Qatar-based news agency Al Jazeera, Federal CID director Comm Datuk Huzir Mohamed said the report was baseless and biased, and has not gone down well with the majority of Malaysians.
He said five police reports have been lodged on the matter.
Huzir added that police have identified several individuals who will assist in the investigation, apart from journalists of the foreign news agency and all those involved in the production of the documentary.
He said the case was being probed for sedition under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, defamation under Section 500 of the Penal Code and misuse of network facilities under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.
Meanwhile, a Bangladeshi who was interviewed in the documentary is being sought.
The Immigration Department requested public help yesterday to trace the foreigner, who was identified as Rayhan Kabir, 25, whose last known address was Sirhan Legacy Sdn Bhd, B-7-9, Menara Uncang Emas, No. 85, Jalan Loke Yew in Kuala Lumpur.
The department said the man was wanted for investigations under Immigration laws.
He was among several people interviewed by Al Jazeera for the documentary.
He allegedly lashed out at the Malaysian government over full-scale operations by enforcement agencies to detain illegal immigrants during the movement control order.
It was reported the foreigner, who is believed to possess a work permit for the construction industry, had claimed he was the head of the marketing department of a company involved in an international wholesale business, apart from distribution of international and local movies. The company has denied the claim.
Immigration Director-General Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud was also quoted as saying that foreigners who were found making slanderous statements which damage Malaysia’s image, will face revocation of their visas. Those with information on Rayhan are urged to contact the Immigration Department at 03-8880 1298, ext 1294 or 03-8880 1555.