The Johor police are investigating a report lodged against a Facebook account owner for allegedly defaming Karmaine Sardini, the Pakatan Harapan candidate for the upcoming Tanjung Piai parliamentary by-election.

Johor police chief Mohd Kamarudin Md Din (photo) said the Pontian district police headquarters received the report on Tuesday.

He said investigations would be conducted under Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

"We are in the process of identifying the owner of the Facebook account and once the person is identified, we will obtain a remand order on the suspect to facilitate investigations," he told a press conference at the Pontian district police headquarters today.

The by-election for Tanjung Piai parliamentary seat will be held on Nov 16. Nomination day will be tomorrow and early voting on Nov 12

The Tanjung Piai seat fell vacant after its incumbent Dr Mohd Farid Mohd Rafik who was also deputy minister in the Prime Minister's Department, died on Sept 21 due to heart complications.

In the 14th general election, Mohd Farid of PH won the seat after polling 21,255 votes to defeat Wee Jeck Seng of BN (20,731 votes) and PAS candidate Nordin Othman (2,962 votes).

- Bernama