KUCHING: A local activist has been arrested by the police to facilitate investigation into the ‘Sarawak Keluar Malaysia 2021’ Facebook page over its alleged social media posting smearing Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem’s image.
The 48-year-old man was picked up by the police at an unspecified location in Sibu at 2.40pm today.
Sarawak Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Dev Kumar said the page was being investigated under the Sedition Act and Communication and Multimedia Act 1998.
“No further details on the arrest and investigation can be disclosed at this point in time,” said Dev, in a statement.
He added that as of 3pm, a total of 13 reports have been lodged against the page including one report by Tupong assemblyman Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman.
The social media posting alluded that Adenan had allegedly blamed the federal government and Umno for political problems and social illnesses taking place in East Malaysia.
The posting, which featured a picture of the chief minister, also suggested that Adenan had threatened that Sarawak will secede from Malaysia should the state’s demand for greater autonomy was not granted.
The Chief Minister’s Office on Monday had categorically dismissed the social media posting as “grossly wrong and blatant act” to mar the good relationship between Adenan and the federal government.