IPOH: Police have cautioned against any attempts to incite extreme sentiments and provocations, including on social media, in light of the Federal Court's ruling regarding lawyer Nik Elin Zurina Nik Abdul Rashid.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said action would be taken against those engaging in extreme provocations that could jeopardise public order.
He also stressed that the issue also touches on the 3R aspects (religion, race, royal institution) and directly impacts the credibility of the judiciary.
Razarudin noted that investigative action would be initiated based on police reports filed by affected parties, including reports submitted through social media channels.
"There have already been reports, and I anticipate there will be more, concerning matters that pose a threat to public order and, in my view, prompt public questioning of the court's decision itself.
"Regarding the 3R, I have consistently advised against delving into sensitive issues.
"So, when issues that are disturbing and sensitive to religion, the royal institution, and race arise, if there are reports, we will investigate. This has been the action we have taken all along," he said.
The IGP said this to reporters after the closing ceremony of the 2024 Internal Security and Public Order Field Training examination at the Ulu Kinta General Operations Force Training Centre today.
Also present were Federal police Internal Security and Public Order Department director Datuk Seri Hazani Ghazali, Perak police chief Datuk Seri Mohd Yusri Hassan Basri, as well as Internal Security and Public Order (general operations force) deputy director Datuk Mohamad Suzrin Mohamad Rodhi.
Razarudin was asked whether police would act against various sentiments and provocations played by several parties, including on social media, following the recent Federal Court decision regarding Nik Elin Zurina.
On Feb 9, the Federal Court, through a panel of nine judges in a majority decision of 8-1, declared 16 out of 18 provisions in the Kelantan Syariah Criminal Code (I) Enactment 2019 null and void.
This followed a petition by Nik Elin Zurina and her daughter, Tengku Yasmin Nastasha Tengku Abdul Rahman, as petitioners challenging 18 provisions of the enactment, while the Kelantan government, as the sole respondent, with that decision, the Kelantan State Legislative Assembly no longer has the jurisdiction to enact the 16 challenged provisions of the law.
On the progress of three police reports filed by Nik Elin Zurina following death threats believed to be related to the issue, Razarudin said one of the investigation papers had been sent to the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC), while the other two were still under investigation.
"The investigation has identified the suspect involved in sending the threats. She received three threats, but one suspect has been identified, while the other two threat cases are still under investigation," he said.
Earlier, Kuala Lumpur Police Chief, Datuk Allaudeen Abdul Majid, said three investigation papers were opened regarding the threats, including one that had been handed over to the Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) for further action.