The 76-year-old author was today remanded for allegedly insulting Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak by sharing a picture in a WhatsApp chat group.

Johor Baru Subordinate Court assistant registrar Norhidayah Abd Manaf allowed the three-day remand until Tuesday, the eve of Hari Raya Aidilfitri, after taking into consideration the suspect's health.

The author suffers from diabetes and high blood pressure, reported Sinar Harian.

The author clad in purple lockup uniform, was brought to the court by 10 am today, the daily reported.

Johor police chief Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said the man was arrested at his home in Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya, Selangor on Friday.

"The suspect was found to have uploaded the image under the name 'Pa Ya' in the WhatsApp group 'Bicara Politik Melayu' (Discussion on Malay politics) aimed at insulting and offending Malaysians," he said in a statement yesterday.

Investigations are being conducted under Section 233 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 which carries a fine of not more than RM50,000 or a maximum one year's jail sentence or both upon conviction.

Section 233 deals with improper use of a a communications network to make obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive comments with intention to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person.