IPOH: Police are investigating a report lodged by Perak Umno Youth against an individual who allegedly slandered Perak Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Saarani Mohamad online.
Perak police chief Comm Datuk Noor Hisam Nordin said they are now trying to track down the individual involved.
"The issue is related to 3R (Race, Religion and Royalty).
"We have opened an investigation paper and will take the necessary procedures," he said in a press conference after witnessing a duty handover ceremony at the police officers' mess hall here on Thursday (Feb 27).
"We've received two reports in the state on the matter," he said, adding that all reports related to 3R would also be received by the state police headquarters.
Perak Umno Youth had reportedly lodged a police report on Wednesday (Feb 26) against the individual, who is believed to be a political activist, for calling Saarani "Ketua Barua Kafir Harbi Perak" (Perak Chief Infidel Henchman).
The remark was made in the comment section of a news portal's Facebook page that had featured an article of Saarani calling for preachers who do not read Friday sermons prepared by the Perak Islamic Religious Department (JAIPk) to be investigated.
Comm Noor Hisam said they have a special task force to look into matters related to 3R.
"We will deal with the matter accordingly," he said.
In a statement issued by state party Youth chief Nazirul Jamaluddin early this morning, he said the term used by the individual was a very serious slander because it refers to non-Muslims who are hostile and fight against Muslims.
"The individual's statement is a serious allegation that is baseless and aimed at defaming the good name of the Mentri Besar as a Muslim leader.
"It can also cause misunderstandings leading to division of the people considering the term used carries a heavy meaning as it is considered as a group that is hostile towards Islam," he said.
"The remark not only questions the credibility and intention of the Perak Islamic Department in managing Friday sermon topics but also incites the community to dispute the authority of the religious institution under the patronage of Sultan of Perak, Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah.
"In fact, Sultan Nazrin had in his royal speech during the Muzakarah Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah on Tuesday (Feb 25) emphasised that a preacher who refused to read the sermon prepared by the religious department is outrageous and cannot be tolerated," he added.
