JOHOR BARU: Police will seek to extend the remand of three suspects linked to a video containing allegedly seditious, defamatory and insulting remarks against Islam, the royal institution and national leaders.
Johor police chief Comm Datuk Ab Rahaman Arsad said the remand of the suspects, aged 17 to 49, would end on Friday (April 3).
They were arrested on Tuesday (March 31).
"The suspects are family members where the man and woman are siblings while the 17-year-old suspect is the woman’s daughter.
"We will request an extension of three or four days to investigate the matter further, but the duration depends on the court," he told a press conference at state police headquarters here on Thursday (April 2).
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Asked if the male suspect is working as a mosque attendant as speculated, Comm Ab Rahaman said investigations are ongoing.
He added that preliminary investigations found that the suspects, who are said to be spreading deviant religious teachings, have no followers at present.
He said the state Islamic Religious Department is also conducting its own investigation to look into the alleged deviant teachings.
The three were arrested in Taman Saujana here following a report lodged on Sunday (March 29) by a man who came across a TikTok video made by an account identified as "ratunurputribalqis".
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.
Among others, the video claimed that the Johor Sultan, 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.
The video purportedly made allegations of misconduct and corruption against the Johor Islamic Religious Department, as well as statements regarding changes to obligatory and voluntary prayers.
