FT DAP wing lodges report over Papagomo’s racial remarks.
Police have arrested Umno Youth’s Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris, better known as “Papagomo”, over a video he posted on Facebook.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun confirmed the arrest on Friday (Nov 30).
He said the blogger was detained on Thursday (Nov 29) to help in a probe over the video post that was deemed seditious, allegedly spread racial hatred and touched on religious sensitivities.
In the video titled ‘Ini Tanah Melayu’, Papagomo, who now uses the “Sir Azri” online moniker, labelled ethnic Indians as “squatters” and urged for ethnic minorities to be stripped of voting rights.
The video has been viewed over 327,000 times and has more than 10,000 shares across various social media platforms.
Fuzi also warned that police would take action against those who used social media to create unrest.
“We don’t want the public to raise racial issues, especially after what had happened at a Hindu temple in Subang Jaya.
“If we allow such things, it will cause other problems relating to security issues,” he told reporters.
He also said another 12 people have been arrested over the riots at the Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya.
“As of today morning, a total of 42 suspects were arrested for damaging vehicles and properties during the demonstration,” he said, adding that the situation there was now calm.
“Police are working hard to improve the situation and we hope the parties involved in this matter can control their emotion and sentiments.”
In a post at 10pm Thursday (Nov 29), Papagomo, on his Facebook page, wrote that he was on the way to the Wangsa Maju district police station to get his statement recorded.
“I do not know what is wrong in freedom of speech which has been lobbied by the Pakatan Harapan government.
“My fight to call on the Anak Bangsa (bumiputras and Malays) to rise in the (Facebook) live video is not a call to arms, or to hurt anyone,” he wrote.
In another post, a page administrator wrote that Papagomo had been asked to go to the Jinjang police station over “his call to defend the Malay and bumiputra rights in the country”.
“Sir Azri’s (Papagomo) fight can only reach its goal if there is solidarity among bumiputras and Malays, even if there is a difference in political views,” the post said.
Meanwhile, Federal Territories DAP Socialist Youth lodged a police report against Papagomo yesterday over his controversial video post.
“Such action of his intends to create chaos. It did not help to unite Malaysians, but adding fuel to the fire on the recent Hindu temple land dispute.
“We condemn Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris for using the incident to get cheap political publicity,” the wing said in a statement.
The youth wing also claimed that Papagomo had defamed DAP as the mastermind behind the fracas at Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam temple in Subang Jaya, while also accusing DAP MP Lim Kit Siang of plotting the bloody May 13 racial riots.
“DAP strives to achieve a harmonious and united society, it is a plural society which is also moderate and inclusive.
“DAP will not allow anyone, for example, Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris from Umno, to spread racial hatred speech as he pleases to destroy racial harmony and national unity to get cheap political publicity,” it said.
The report was lodged at the Kepong police station, urging investigations under Penal Code’s Sections 504 to 506.
The three sections deal with intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace, publishing any statement with the intent to cause fear to the public, and criminal intimidation, respectively.