SNAPSHOT | Cops probing Zamri for sedition; PM sidesteps questions over Azam's contract

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 9am, 2pm, 6pm and 9pm.

9pm

Crime

• The Penang police are investigating controversial Islamic preacher Zamri Vinoth for sedition over a TikTok livestream on March 8, where he purportedly made statements that were threatening, provocative, insulting, and racist.

  The investigation is also being conducted under Section 504 of the Penal Code, and Section 233(1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for abuse of network facilities, said Penang police chief Azizee Ismail in a statement.

  Police have also arrested four more people as part of investigations into the attacks against Zamri a day earlier.

  

  This brings the total number to six people arrested over the March 7 incident.

  Azizee said all suspects are local men aged 29 to 31 and have criminal records.

  They are being remanded for two days until tomorrow to assist in the investigation under Section 506 of the Penal Code for making criminal threats and Section 427 of the Penal Code for committing mischief.

• Selangor police have confirmed an attack involving self-proclaimed activist S Chandrasegaran, 47, better known as Cikgu Chandra.

  

  “I can confirm the incident and a press conference will be held tomorrow,” state police chief Shazeli Kahar said briefly to Harian Metro.

  It was earlier reported that Chandrasegaran claimed at least three masked men armed with machetes had attacked his home yesterday and damaged a car, with a separate pre-dawn attack setting fire to three of his other cars.

Azam’s contract

• Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim sidestepped reporters’ questions regarding yesterday’s Straits Times report that MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki’s contract will not be extended once it expires on May 12.

  According to The Star, Anwar was approached at an International Women’s Day event at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre in Kuala Lumpur today, and he responded to the poser by asking, “Well… Straits Times mana (which Straits Times)?”

  

  When clarified that the question refers to the Singaporean publication, Anwar reportedly responded with a brief “oh”, and continued, “They didn't ask me. Let them ask me first.”

READ MORE: 'RCI on MACC must be established whether Azam retires or not'

Campus politics

• Universiti Malaya said its legal demands against Liga Mahasiswa Universiti Malaya (LMUM) are part of its corporate identity management process.

  It claimed to have received complaints from students and the public about LMUM that affected the university’s reputation.

  

  The university stated that it respects students’ freedom to voice their opinions responsibly, but the use of its name and identity must follow the university’s guidelines.

  Earlier, LMUM decried “intimidation” after receiving legal threats to stop using the university’s name, as the group has yet to formally register as a student organisation.

READ MORE: Student group cries intimidation after UM sends legal notice, but hesitant to get registered

6pm

Religious tension

• Entrepreneur and Cooperatives Development Minister Steven Sim said he will raise the issue of religious tension at tomorrow's cabinet meeting.

  In a statement on Facebook, the Bukit Mertajam MP voiced his frustration over recent incidents where religious sensitivities were provoked, with some involving violent attacks.

  "The time has come to put a total stop to any violence and provocation against any religion or race.

  "Police have to act swiftly and strictly against those who stoke tension regardless of their background, and these people must be subjected to the strongest action provided by our law; be it those who trample on the Quran, or on Hindu religious symbol, those who do provocation by demolishing temples, vandalism, and set fire on vehicles," he said.

  Sim also called on the people to unite and reject extremism promoted by agent provocateurs.

  

  "It is everyone’s duty to bring the temperature down in our multicultural society. Stop spreading hate and fanning the fire," he added.

  The DAP lawmaker's call came amid rising religious tension between Muslims and Hindus in the country, which saw several cases of assault and arson in Penang and Selangor in the past few days.

Iran conflict

• A specially chartered Malaysian Airlines flight has departed for an evacuation mission in West Asia, Bernama reported.

  The flight departed Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 4.10pm and is scheduled to arrive in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, at 8.15pm local time, and then depart for Malaysia at 10.20pm and arrive at KLIA at noon tomorrow.

  

  It is expected to bring home about 200 Malaysians, and five Thai nationals who are family members of affected Malaysians, the report claimed.

  They are believed to have been previously stranded in several locations, the report said, including Syria, Jordan, and Qatar, when conflict forced airspace closures across the region.

2pm

Corruption

• Lawyers for Liberty co-founder Latheefa Koya has chastised Securities Commission (SC) chairperson Faiz Azmi for using a secrecy law to evade disclosing whether the agency is investigating allegations that the MACC is colluding with a “corporate mafia” to target business rivals.

  She told Malaysiakini that Faiz’s interpretation of Section 148 of the SC Act - which forbids unauthorised disclosure of information - was wrong and perverse.

  

  “The SC is a regulatory body, which means they are accountable to the public. There is no such thing as secret investigations by a public body in Malaysia. 

  “Section 148 does not bar SC officials from informing the public whether a probe is ongoing or not on the corporate mafia issue. Section 148 only prohibits the disclosure of details of the probe, such as evidence obtained.

  “Public officials must understand the right of the public to know and the role of the media in ensuring transparency and accountability,” she said.

  Reporting by Zikri Kamarulzaman

• A fellow NGO has rallied behind Bersih after the latter’s office was visited by two plainclothed individuals who claimed to be police officers. 

  Denouncing the alleged intimidation, Martabat Untuk Semua Petaling Jaya honorary secretary Elizabeth Chrisostom stressed that authorities should focus their efforts on addressing concerns raised on the MACC’s conduct rather than “targeting” those who dare question the anti-graft agency. 

  Bersih, she highlighted, had done what any responsible CSO should do by speaking up against abuse of power and defending democratic accountability. 

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  READ MORE: PM: Bersih's claims against MACC 'unfair'

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  “Malaysia cannot claim to be a reforming democracy while civil society voices are being pressured, investigated, and harassed for raising legitimate concerns.

  “The Madani government led by (Prime Minister) Anwar Ibrahim must decide: will it protect democratic freedoms, or repeat the same repressive playbook of the past?” she pressed in a statement today.

Racial, religious tensions 

• The National Unity Ministry has urged the police to conduct thorough investigations and take firm action against parties involved in three recent incidents, which could “undermine social harmony” in the nation. 

  In a statement today, its minister, Aaron Ago Dagang, highlighted the alleged arson attack against vehicles belonging to a social media influencer known as Cikgu Chandra and the attack on independent preacher Zamri Vinoth. 

  

  Aaron also raised concerns about a viral video depicting a man stepping on a sacred Hindu symbol. 

  Calling on Malaysians not to act emotionally and to always exercise prudence when responding to sensitive issues, particularly on social media, Aaron said any differences in opinion should be handled through proper channels and based on existing laws. 

  “The National Unity Ministry will continue to work closely with security agencies, community leaders, and interfaith organisations to ensure the country’s harmony, peace, and stability are always preserved,” he added. 

• DAP Youth has called on Attorney-General Dusuki Mokhtar and the police to take action against those who provoke and incite tensions.

  Wing chief Woo Kah Leong said that whether it is stepping on a Quran or a Hindu symbol, action must be taken.

  Woo also condemned vigilantes who attacked Cikgu Chandra’s property, while at the same time saying the latter should face legal consequences for provocations against unauthorised Hindu temples.

9am

Politics

• PKR may sue self-proclaimed land activist Tamim Dahri Abdul Razak for trolling the party with a dishonest membership application.

  “He brought disrepute to our party by misusing the logo on his social media posts,” PKR deputy secretary-general Aidi Amin Yazid was quoted as saying by Free Malaysia Today last night.

  “PKR is mulling legal action against him to prevent future trolls from causing disharmony under the pretence of applying for membership,” he added.

• Fifteen Sabah Bersatu Youth leaders reportedly quit the party last night, citing infighting as the reason.

  Leading the exit was Sabah Bersatu Youth chief Hisyam Hazaril Azman, who said that others who left were youth wing leaders from Tuaran, Sepanggar, Pensiangan, Keningau, Papar, Tawau, Putatan and Beluran.

  “We are deeply disappointed to see the party’s internal conflict dragging on to the point that it has tarnished the party’s image and undermined public confidence in the struggle it once championed,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

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