Police have opened an investigation paper against Malaysiakini columnist Andrew Sia over his opinion piece “Our apartheid academy, UiTM” published on May 22.
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain told Harian Metro that 14 police reports had been lodged about the article as of 6pm yesterday, adding that police would obtain information from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission on the writer.
An information chief of a political party was the first to report the matter to police at the Dang Wangi police station, he added.
The investigation is under intentional insult to provoke a breach of the peace (Section 504 of the Penal Code), using network facilities to transmit communications that could be deemed offensive (Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act) and the use of insulting words (Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act).
Section 504 of the Penal Code states: “Whoever intentionally insults, and thereby gives provocation to any person, intending or knowing it to be likely that such provocation will cause him to break the public peace, or to commit any other offence, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or with a fine or with both.”
Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act stipulates offences of using network facilities to transmit communication deemed to be offensive or could cause annoyance to another person. An offence under the section is punishable with up to one-year imprisonment, a fine up to RM50,000, or both.
Under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955, any sort of insulting behaviour – be it in terms of using insulting or indecent words, language or gestures – which is administered with the intention of disturbing the peace or provoking someone else is regarded as an offence.
In response to the column, Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh demanded that Malaysiakini take down the article and called for Sia to issue an apology.
He also called on his wing members nationwide to lodge police reports against the news portal and its columnist.
Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki also criticised Sia for his opinion piece calling it a vicious slander.
Meanwhile, an academic has responded to Akmal’s clarion call against Malaysiakini Sia, over the latter’s article on UiTM.
Zaharom Nain, a professor of media and communication studies, said those who disagree with the contents of the article should provide an alternative account.
“Sia set the cat among the pigeons by writing a polemical opinion piece, as most of these pieces tend to be.
“We, in turn, ought to see it in that light and, if we feel strongly against his opinion, engage him, challenge him with an alternative account. This is the way of civilised discourse by mature individuals.
“We shouldn’t go screaming blue murder and make threats and police reports because that is the infantile, cowardly way of bullies, thugs and hooligans,” he added.
Zaharom also urged Akmal to train his focus on a more pertinent question.
“In this regard, people like Akmal should really channel their energies and concerns to the question of why, after 53 years of the NEP (New Economic Policy), and despite institutions like UiTM, bumiputera still make up the majority of B40?
“How much really has he done all this while for the poor Malaysians that are still around?
“Ironically, he and his ilk are the ones desperately trying to get his former boss out of prison for committing the heinous crime of stealing millions, possibly billions, from us all,” he added in reference to former premier Najib Abdul Razak.
Calling on Umno Youth members to lodge police reports nationwide, Akmal said Sia’s description of UiTM as an “apartheid academy” was “insolent and hurtful”.
Demanding an apology from Sia and for Malaysiakini to retract the article, the politician, who cited the existence of vernacular schools, said the writer and his family would not have received an education if apartheid was practised in the country.
Earlier, another academic, Tajuddin Rasdi, noted how the term “apartheid” is used to describe discriminatory policies in general.
“When someone uses a word, it has a specific meaning.
“But when we add to it and make assumptions about the word, then it becomes something big,” he said. – Malaysiakini