A 76-Year-Old Johorian Was Arrested For Insulting PM Najib In A WhatsApp Group
"The photo has insulted and hurt the feelings of Malaysians."
By Sadho Ram — 03 Jul 2016, 01:52 PM
In case you didn't know, the Malaysian police force has a task force that monitors, identifies and takes action against those who misuse social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and WhatsApp
In fact, Johor Police Chief Commissioner Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd has advised the public "against misusing social media applications without thinking about the consequences." He says the police will "not hesitate to take action and eventually charge those who do."
And true to his warning, they arrested an elderly man in Johor for sharing a photo in a WhatsApp group that the police claims is insulting to the Prime Minister Najib Razak.
The man in question is a 76-year-old Johorian, who goes by the name Pa Ya, The Star reported. He shared the photo in a WhatsApp group called "Bicara Politik Melayu" (Discuss Malay Politics).
He was arrested at his home in Kampung Tunku, Petaling Jaya, Selangor at 12.15pm on Saturday following a police report filed Friday. The police seized a Samsung G5 mobile phone from him. They remanded him in the Magistrate's Court Sunday.
According to Commissioner Wan Ahmad, "The photo has insulted and hurt the feelings of Malaysians". If convicted after investigations under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, he could be charged with RM50K or up to a year's jail, or both.