Wednesday 5 June 2013

Woman held over Facebook post

A 32-year-old woman who had been in hiding after she allegedly insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong via social media site Facebook has been detained.

She was picked up in Taman Nirwana, Ampang, at 9.30am yesterday.

A Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) spokesman said the commission, in collaboration with the police, successfully tracked down the suspect, who was said to have insulted Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah on Facebook.

“The woman was detained by police to assist in the MCMC investigations into the alleged insult,” the spokesman said in a statement yesterday.

He said the suspect was believed to have been in hiding after her identity was revealed in the Internet following the alleged insults.

“The commission is also requesting for the suspect’s friends to come forward to assist in further investigations.

“The investigation was carried out under Section 233 of the Communi-cations and Multimedia Act 1998,” he said.

The MCMC, he said, viewed very seriously the abuse of social media to upload content or comments containing elements of insult especially against the monarchy.

Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief Senior Asst Comm Datuk Amar Singh said the woman would also be investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 over her alleged insults.

“We are also tracking down four other individuals to assist in the investigation,” he said.

He urged the individuals – Weennee Tan, Shuh Chien Loo, Hun Keat Wong and Carol Tay to come forward as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said stern action would be taken against the woman.

He said he left it to the police to investigate the matter and take the necessary action.

“They know what needs to be done,” he told reporters after a working visit to the Sungai Besi Cure and Care 1Malaysia Clinic yesterday.

It was reported on Sunday that the police were investigating a woman for posting alleged insults against the King on her Facebook page.

In Ipoh, a group of 20 NGOs lodged a police report against a blogger and a Facebook user for insulting the King.

Its spokesman Shamsul Bahrain Putra Ahmad Shibi said the NGO members were shocked and angry at the disrespectful actions of the two people who he said uttered derogatory and racist remarks against the royal institution.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jama-luddin called on the MCMC to get tough on those who posted seditious statements via social media websites.

He urged the authorities to amend the Communications and Multi­media Act 1998 to prevent slander and sedition.

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