MCMC hauls up 3 more over false racial posts on Sultan Nazrin case

MCMC has recorded statements from three more individuals regarding fake online posts with racial elements related to an attempted attack involving Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Shah.

The commission said the posts, uploaded on the individuals’ respective Facebook and TikTok accounts, had wrongly claimed that a woman of Chinese descent had rushed the sultan during a state-level National Day celebration.

Statements from the trio were taken yesterday at the Kuala Nerang police station in Kedah, the Beserah police station in Kuantan, and the Northeast district police headquarters in Penang. 

“A total of three mobile phones, three SIM cards, and one memory card were seized for digital forensic analysis,” MCMC added in a statement today.

The investigation is being conducted under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which deals with the misuse of network services.

The legislation provides for a maximum fine of RM500,000, imprisonment of up to two years, or both.

PAS man’s error

Yesterday, MCMC confirmed it had recorded a statement from Perak PAS Youth chief Hafez Sabri over a false and “racially charged” social media post that claimed that the woman involved in the incident was Chinese.

The probe came despite Hafez’s insistence that his Facebook post, which identified the race of the suspect in the attack against the state ruler, was based on “initial information” he had obtained.

Asserting that he had corrected his original post “minutes” after it was published, he alleged that irresponsible parties had circulated screenshots of the earlier version of the post to play up narratives against him.

Hafez’s defence came after Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation director M Kumar confirmed that the individual arrested for the attempted attack against the state ruler was a 41-year-old Malay woman.

Kumar added that investigations into false claims are being carried out under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code, which covers statements that could cause public fear or alarm.

Besides drug-related records, Perak police had previously said that the woman involved in the attack also has a history of psychiatric treatment and is under the supervision of a specialist.

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COMMENT | Racist post, hasty apology, same old story?