HOME Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said he trusted the police’s expertise and decisions in relation to a social media posting showing UMNO Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh wielding a sword.
Speaking at a press conference in Putrajaya on Thursday (April 4), he said he did not want to “enter the police’s territory”.
“I believe the police have their own expertise and they know what they’re doing,” he was reported as saying by FMT, adding that the police may file their own police report over any case and launch a probe thereafter.
Akmal’s post dated March 14, one day after the discovery of socks bearing the word “Allah” being sold at a KK Mart outlet, was captioned: “No matter what, we will not waver from our stance. Better to die standing than live kneeling.”
At that time, he had called for the implementation of a single-stream education system, sparking heated debates over vernacular schools.
Akmal’s first comment on the KK Mart issue came a day after on March 15, when he expressed dissatisfaction with the convenience store chain’s apology.
It was in this same post that he had also called for a boycott against the convenience store chain.
Senator Datuk Seri Ti Lian Ker had raised the issue in Dewan Negara earlier this week, questioning why the Merlimau assemblyman had yet to be probed for sedition over the photo.
In response to Ti’s query Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain told FMT that the police have yet to receive any reports on Akmal’s photo.
Razarudin said that according to standard procedure, the police will only initiate an investigation if a report is lodged.
No need to wait
The IGP drew criticism from rights group Lawyers for Liberty whose president Zaid Malek said the police do not need to wait for a report to be lodged to investigate Akmal over the social media post.
In a statement earlier today Zaid said Section 3(3) of the Police Act states that the police must maintain law and order, preserve the peace, and apprehend offenders.
He also said Akmal is a national-level politician and his post, amid the socks controversy, has a far-reaching impact on public order and tranquillity.
“His sword-bearing Facebook post must be investigated for offences under Section 505 (b) and (c) of the Penal Code for causing public alarm and inciting one class or community of persons against another,” Zaid remarked.
“There is nothing in the law that states that the police’s investigative powers begin only upon a report being lodged.”
Zaid said it was common for the police themselves to lodge a police report to initiate an investigation.
“Why was the same not done in this case?” he questioned, saying Akmal’s post was “inflammatory” and must be probed. – April 4, 2024
Main pic credit: Facebook/Akmal Saleh
