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MCMC: Woman detained for insulting King on Facebook

By Boo Su-Lyn

KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has detained a suspect who allegedly insulted Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah on Facebook after the King urged Malaysians to accept the Election 2013 results.

The MCMC said that with co-operation from the police, it managed to locate the woman and detain her for questioning.

“The suspect may also be charged under the Sedition Act 1948,” the MCMC said in a statement today.

“MCMC views very seriously the abuse of social media to upload content or comments containing elements of insult especially against the monarchy,” it added.

The commission requested the suspect’s friends to come forward to assist in investigations that are being done under section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin was quoted by national news agency Bernama yesterday as calling for the MCMC to take decisive action against those who insulted the King on Facebook.

English daily The Star reported Kuala Lumpur deputy police chief SAC Datuk Amar Singh yesterday as saying that six NGOs have lodged police reports after the suspect’s post went viral on the social networking site.

Tuanku Abdul Halim called on Malaysians last Saturday to accept the results of the May 5 polls.

“The act of casting doubts on an institution that has been entrusted under the Federal Constitution to conduct the general elections in this country is very dangerous and might only cause a never-ending conflict,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

Barisan Nasional (BN) won the 13th general election with a reduced parliamentary majority of 133 seats to Pakatan Rakyat’s (PR) 89 and lost the popular vote for the first time since 1969.