DNC lodges report on seditious FB remarks

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KUCHING: Sarawakians are once again the subject of seditious remarks on facebook, this time through postings containing elements of racial insults on an account named ‘JIM – Jemaah ISIS Malaysia’ which targeted the Dayaks.

Alim showing the media a copy of the police report.

Following this incident, the Dayak National Congress (DNC) has lodged a police report against the said account holder.

The non-governmental organisation (NGO) feared that such seditious remarks could incite racial tension in this country and the state in particular.

DNC executive secretary Alim Mideh said he first came across the controversial posting last Thursday (Aug 28) at his home in Kota Samarahan.

At the time of viewing, the posting had garnered eight ‘likes’ and 111 comments.

“This thing, that the facebook account owner has done, should be investigated and stopped at once. The Federation of Malaysia is made up of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak. As such, we have citizens from various racial ethnic groups and religions.
We have to respect one another and this kind of activity is bad for the country’s harmony and progress.

“We do hope that leaders from Sabah and Sarawak in particular look seriously into this matter,” he told reporters when met after making his police report at Sungai Maong Police Station here yesterday.

Strongly condemning the irresponsible act, Alim pointed to the danger of such postings which could influence minors who might take the remark at face-value.

He feared that if the police and other relevant authorities did not take action against these individuals, the public would take matters into their own hands and others would be encouraged to boldly post similar remarks on facebook accounts and various other online channels.

He thus called on the government to investigate what instigated such sentiments.

At the same time, he urged all NGOs of other races to come out and lodge police reports
if they encountered similar remarks.

“What we see so far, at the surface, are actions of insensible people. They should not have done this,” he continued.

As reported in the media on Aug 8, the police are tracing facebook account holders Vignamona VM, Kelvin Yip, Mohd Adam Asyiq Balasubramaniam and Persatuan Kongsi Gelap Melayu (Association of Malay Secret Societies) to assist in their investigation.

Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Mohmad Salleh was reported as saying that action would be taken against them for allegedly posting seditious remarks, as well as statements containing elements of racism and religious insults.