Zamri detained for 'sedition', remand tomorrow

Summary

• Preacher Zamri Vinoth has been arrested over his Facebook posts on the relocation of a temple in KL.

• IGP says the investigation is under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Independent Islamic preacher Zamri Vinoth has reportedly been arrested over his Facebook posts regarding the relocation of the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple in Kuala Lumpur.

According to several media reports, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said Bukit Aman’s Classified Crime Investigation Unit has opened an investigation against him under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Zamri (above) is reportedly being detained in the lock-up at the Padang Besar police headquarters in Perlis and will be brought to the Kangar court for a remand application tomorrow.

"He was arrested at Taman Melati Indah, Beseri, Kangar, Perlis today," Razarudin told the New Straits Times.

Police also seized a mobile phone belonging to Zamri, he added.

Demolition trigger

The controversy began when news broke of plans to demolish the Dewi Sri Pathrakaliamman temple to make way for a mosque.

Another controversial preacher Firdaus Wong claimed to have received death threats over the matter, leading to the arrest of a man.

The temple issue has been resolved amicably as the temple committee struck a deal with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) over the relocation.

In his Facebook posts, Zamri painted the temple committee as people who had stolen land for the use of the temple.

Elaborating, Razarudin said the arrest followed a police report about Zamri allegedly posting comments on religious sensitivities connected to the temple's relocation.

He added that the report had been lodged yesterday by an unemployed man from Batu Caves at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.

"In his report, the complainant urged the police to investigate Zamri over comments deemed seditious and offensive to the Hindu religion.

"Our investigators posed 24 questions to the suspect during the investigation," he said.

Besides that, Razarudin said MCMC had begun preserving the data on Zamri's Facebook account.

Kavadi controversy

Zamri previously courted controversy when he allegedly insulted Hinduism by likening kavadi bearers during the Hindu Thaipusam festival to individuals who are “possessed and intoxicated”.

The post was removed from Facebook on March 9 after a request by MCMC, but Zamri later re-uploaded the post.

On March 12, Razarudin reportedly said police had submitted their findings in the investigation against Zamri to the Attorney-General’s Chambers.

He also confirmed that the police had received 894 police reports against Zamri over this issue.

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