KUALA LUMPUR: Police have arrested three actors involved in a 2018 theatre performance that allegedly mocked the Rukun Negara.
Bukit Aman CID director Comm Datuk M Kumar said the suspects were picked up in Selangor and Johor to assist investigations under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
“One of the five actors has since died while another is believed to be in the United Kingdom,” Comm Kumar said at a press conference yesterday.
“We are also tracing the individual who uploaded the video.”
Inspection of the three suspects’ phones, electronic devices and social media accounts revealed no recordings of the performance or Rukun Negara content.
The performance was held behind closed doors at the Penang Art Centre in 2018, with no police reports lodged at the time.
Comm Kumar said investigators are still probing the background of the theatre troupe and circumstances surrounding the show.
On Saturday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Fadil Marsus said the Bukit Aman Classified Crime Investigation Unit had taken over the investigation following a report lodged at the Jalan Tun Razak police station over the circulation of a video lasting about 10 minutes.
The video shows five actors reciting the Rukun Negara principles, interspersed with remarks and statements allegedly containing racial sensitivities.
Comm Kumar said police would complete the investigation before referring investigation papers to the Attorney General’s Chambers for further instructions.
