KUALA LUMPUR: Police do not need to wait for a report to be lodged to investigate Umno Youth chief Dr Akmal Saleh over a social media posting showing him wielding a sword, says a humans right body.
Lawyers for Liberty director Zaid Malek said Section 3(3) of the Police Act states that the police must maintain law and order, preserve the peace, and apprehend offenders.
It said Akmal is a national-level politician and his post, amid the socks controversy, has a far-reaching impact on public order and tranquility.
Akmal has been at the forefront of calls for action and a boycott against KK Mart over the "Allah" socks controversy.
Yesterday, Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Razarudin Husain was reported as saying that no probe has been initiated into Akmal over the post as no report had been lodged against the Merlimau assemblyman.
"His sword-bearing Facebook post must be investigated for offences under Section 505 (b) and (c) of the Penal Code for causing public alarm and inciting one class or community of persons against another," said Zaid in a statement.
"There is nothing in the law that states that the police's investigative powers begin only upon a report being lodged," he said.
Zaid said it was common for the police themselves to lodge a police report to initiate an investigation.
"Why was the same not done in this case?" he said, adding Akmal's post was "inflammatory" and must be probed.
Former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim also commented on the issue, citing his own experience in 2014.
"When I was charged for insulting the then-prime minister in 2014, no member of the public lodged a report," said Zaid in a Facebook post.
"So Bukit Aman got a policeman to lodge a report. It's quite simple."