45-year-old Man Detained For Alleged Seditious Remarks Against Sabah TYT, Chief Minister

KOTA KINABALU, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- Police today arrested a 45-year-old man on a charge of allegedly using social media to make statements with seditious tendency against the Sabah Yang Dipertua Negeri (TYT) and the Chief Minister.

Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the man was arrested at 2.45 pm in Papar following a police report received on Sunday (Sept 7) regarding a post on the TikTok application that contained seditious elements and incitement.

“A mobile phone was also seized from the suspect. Preliminary checks on the gadget revealed that the suspect was the operator of the TikTok app account @bentan_alamin_35 which allegedly published seditious remarks against the Yang Dipertua Negeri (Governor of Sabah) and the Chief Minister of Sabah.

“The case is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 505(B) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” he said in a press conference at the Sabah police contingent headquarters here today.

He said further checks found that the suspect had two prior records relating to the offence of improper use of network facilities or network services (social media).

Jauteh advised the public to use social media prudently and responsibly and not to issue any statements that could disrupt public order and cause unrest.

Meanwhile, Jauteh said another man who was arrested for allegedly threatening a pathology expert involved in the Zara Qairina Mahathir inquest has been remanded for four days until Sept 11.

The 61-year-old man was arrested on Sept 7 following a report on a statement on his Facebook page containing criminal elements against pathology expert from the Forensic Department, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Dr Jessie Hiu.

-- BERNAMA