Malaysia to investigate threat to overthrow government

Malaysia to investigate threat to overthrow government

KUALA LUMPUR - The police are setting up a special team to check on the threat to overthrow the government through undemocratic means.

Federal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) chief Datuk Hadi Ho Abdullah said the team, which will be headed by Deputy Commisioner Datuk Mazlan Mansor, would detain individuals involved in any plans to carry out the threat.

He said this in relation to a police report lodged against a netizen for publishing posts on a social networking site on plans to hold an illegal assembly on New Year's Eve at Dataran Merdeka here.

Hadi said police were expected to arrest the netizen, whose name appears as "Asmaelz Hadzeny II" on Facebook, for criminal intimidation and for detrimental acts to parliamentary democracy.

On his Facebook page, Asmaelz is listed as a coordinator at the Survey and Mapping Department.

He had allegedly posted on Saturday: "Selamat pagi dan selamat membuat persiapan utk merusuh, buat persediaan yg secukupnya, rehatkan diri kerana nanti kita akan memerlukan tenaga yg lebih utk menggulingkan kerajaan zalim UMNOBN pd malam ambangnya sambutan tahun baru! Ayuh rakyat ayuh! Kalau boleh sila bawa perkakasan, peralatan utk mempertahankandiri dari serangan anjing umno iaitu POLIS..... saya nak cari bom, ada tak? Inbox sy. tq."

(Good morning and happy preparing for the riot, make enough preparations. Rest well because we will need the extra energy to topple the cruel UMNOBN government on New Year's eve! Come, people! If possible, please bring equipment and tools to defend yourself from the attacks of Umno 'dogs' or police... I'm looking for a bomb, anyone has one? Inbox me. Thank you.)

"This post, especially the last part about asking for a bomb, is an offence under Section 506 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation as well as the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 or Sosma."

In George Town, a non-governmental organisation lodged a police report against a similar threat.

Persatuan Muka Buku Pulau Pinang chairman Salleh Ismail expressed concern over the postings, including one which read: "Kami beri peringatan keras untuk polis, Ini Protes Rakyat Sapa Halang, Kami Lawan." (We are giving stern warning to the police, this is a public protest, we will fight anyone who tries to stop us.)

"We are worried about the potential chaos at Dataran Merdeka, which will disrupt the New Year's countdown celebration."

"Our aim is to prompt the police to open investigation papers on the possible protest and take preemptive action against troublemakers," Salleh told reporters after lodging the report.

Warriors Council of Malaysia adviser Datuk Ahmad Mazlan also called on those behind the planned gathering to give up the idea as it would not bring any good to the people or the country.

This website is best viewed using the latest versions of web browsers.