IGP warns netizens over scathing posts

KUALA LUMPUR: Police are appalled by malicious comments made by unscrupulous users of social media alleging selective enforcement of the law.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar (pix) in a statement today said a number of netizens had posted scathing comments on the credibility of the government and criticising the police force on the action taken on three specific cases.
He said such netizens had commented on police action on the cases involving road bully Siti Fairrah Ashykin Kamaruddin, who threatened an elderly man following a minor road accident last week, the assault on a suspected snatch thief by a man of another race and sex blogger Alvin Tan, who was charged with sedition after allegedly offending Muslims in a video during the fasting month last year.
He said the comments claimed that police had acted partially and favoured a certain race.
"Police action is based on the law and procedures and is not selective or in the interest of any particular race or religion. We wish to stress that action on every case varies and is based on the aspects of the probe, which are time consuming," he said.
He said in the case of Siti Fairrah, investigations were wrapped up quickly as the woman had given her full cooperation while in the case of the snatch thief, the assailant's whereabouts are unknown but the search for the man is ongoing.
"The comments made are seditious and can stoke racial and religious sensitivities. We advise cyberspace users to be responsible and verify every piece of information they receive. There are laws for such offences and it can be used against those who post seditious content," he said.