Police arrest three for allegedly insulting royalty

PETALING JAYA: Police arrested three individuals on Wednesday (Jan 9) for allegedly insulting Sultan Muhammad V on social media.

Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said police received several reports claiming the three had committed the offence through comments posted on social media.

"We picked up Eric Liew Chee Ling, 46, Azham Akhtar Abdullah, 27, and Nur Alia Astaman, 26, on Tuesday.

"Liew is believed to have committed the offence via Facebook while the other two individuals were believed to have committed the offence via Twitter," he said in a statement on Wednesday.

He said the three suspects were being investigated under Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948.

Mohamad Fuzi also advised the public to use social media prudently and refrain from making any statements that can be viewed as provocative.

"Do not manipulate the issue of the King resigning, which could cause a negative perception of the Conference of Rulers," he urged.