JOHOR BARU: Police have arrested three individuals over a TikTok video allegedly containing seditious, defamatory and insulting remarks against Islam, national leaders and state institutions.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the suspects, two women and one man, were detained in Taman Saujana here on Tuesday (March 31) following a report lodged on Sunday (March 29) at about 5pm.
He said the report was made after a local man came across a video uploaded on the mobile app TikTok by an account identified as “ratunurputribalqis”.
“Initial investigations found that the video contained elements of incitement, defamation and insults against Islam, the Prime Minister, the Johor royal institution, religious authorities and the Johor police chief,” he said in a statement.
Among others, the video allegedly claimed that the Sultan of Johor, the Tunku Mahkota Johor and the Prime Minister sought advice from the account holder in preparing speeches, and accused the Johor ruler of keeping the individual’s identification documents for certain purposes.
"It also purportedly made allegations of misconduct and corruption against the Johor Islamic Religious Department, as well as statements regarding changes to obligatory and voluntary prayers.
"Police checks revealed that all three suspects have no prior criminal records, while initial urine screening tests returned negative results. Several items were also seized to assist in the investigation," he said.
The suspects were remanded for four days until April 3 after an application was allowed by the Johor Baru Magistrate’s Court.
The case is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Section 298 of the Penal Code and Section 500 of the Penal Code.
Police have issued a stern reminder to the public not to raise or touch on sensitive 3R (race, religion and royalty) issues in any form that could disrupt national harmony.
Members of the public with information are urged to contact the Johor police hotline at 019-279 2095 or the state police contingent operations room at 07-221 2999.
