PROBE ON ROME STATUTE FORUM
Several people may be called up for allegedly insulting rulers, says IGP
POLICE may call up several people who were alleged to have insulted the Malay rulers during a forum on the Rome Statute in Universiti Malaya on Saturday.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said police had opened investigation papers after several reports were lodged against those involved.
“Whether we call them up to have their statements recorded or not depends on the progress of the investigation... if there is a need, we will call them in for questioning.
“We will see how it progresses and whether they had committed any offence before calling them in.
“We will see whether the investigation will be carried out under the Sedition Act or other laws,” he said after launching the Brickfields police headquarters here yesterday.
On Sunday, Pertubuhan Pribumi Perkasa Malaysia (Perkasa) lodged a report against PKR advisory council deputy chairman Professor Dr Syed Husin Ali for
allegedly criticising the Malay rulers at the forum.
The report mentioned several names, including Attorney-General Tommy Thomas and student activist Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi, who were also at the forum.
On another matter, Fuzi said 867 reports had been lodged against a freelance Muslim preacher who was alleged to have insulted Hinduism following the release of a video clip on social media.
He said police were going through the reports against the 34-year-old who was arrested in Arau, Perlis, on Sunday.
“The case is being investigated by Bukit Aman after he was arrested in Arau and brought here.
“We have not ruled out the possibility of more reports being lodged against him.
“We are trying to ascertain the owner of the YouTube account, Info Sunnah Kelantan, who had uploaded the video clip of the preacher.
“We are working with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to trace the owner of the account to facilitate investigations.”
Investigations are being carried out under Section 298A of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony or unity, on grounds of religion, as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities or network service.
Fuzi advised the public not to misuse social media to spread content that could provoke racial or religious tension.
The preacher, who is a non-governmental organisation chairman (NGO), was detained outside a restaurant in Arau at 2.30am after attending a religious discussion organised by the NGO at a public institution of higher learning in Perlis.
He is reported to have a criminal record.