Cops probe groups over seditious statements

KOTA KINABALU: Police are investigating groups and individuals allegedly calling for Sabah and Sarawak to secede from Malay­sia.

Describing such calls as seditious, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohd Bakri Zinin said several people had been identified and police were investigating statements they made on social media websites.

“We will take stern action against them for inciting,” he told reporters after opening the RM74mil police headquarters in Lahad Datu, about 420km from here yesterday.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin had warned there were attempts by certain people to undermine the security and unity among the people by calling for Sabah and Sarawak to leave the Malaysian federation.

“We are not taking the matter lightly, as such statements are aimed at causing chaos,” Bakri said.

In a related development, a civil activist group here has lodged a police report against several people who have allegedly called for Sabah and Sarawak to leave Malaysia.

Sabah Community for Solidarity president Musli Oli said the people spreading their hate campaign were using social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as newsletters and blogs.

“These people upload videos of their mission on YouTube and hold seminars in the interiors to gain support,” Musli, a freelance writer, claimed after his group lodged police reports against lawyer Doris Jones and the group she purportedly led called Sabah Sarawak Keluar Malaysia (SSKM) at the Karamunsing police station here yesterday.

“They have been spreading messages of hate, secession, religious issues and slander against national Malaysian leaders,” added Musli in his report.

He said he learnt that SSKM, formed in August 2011, was petitioning for 300,000 signatures to support its stand.

Kota Kinabalu City police chief Asst Comm M. Chandra confirmed police had received a report and would investigate the claims.