JOHOR BARU: A statement from Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin over his remarks during the Pulai by-election will be recorded in Bukit Aman on Tuesday, says Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
The Deputy Inspector-General of Police said they were investigating the Perikatan Nasional chairman’s claims that Malays would lose power, and his “political fatwa” claiming it was “haram” (or sinful) to vote for a candidate from a rival party.
“We have opened up two investigation papers on Muhyiddin,” he said when met after inspecting the voting process for the Pulai parliamentary by-election at Maktab Sultan Abu Bakar here yesterday.
On PAS president Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang’s statement allegedly disputing the power of the Pardons Board, Ayob Khan said police had already referred the investigation paper to the Attorney General’s Chambers for further action.
He said the police would continue to monitor remarks that touch on the 3Rs (race, religion and royalty).
“The authorities, including the police, have warned and advised many times, but there are still those who use the opportunity to exploit (these issues) for their political interests.
“So, these issues will continue either on social media or in statements, but the police will always monitor,” he said.
In a separate press conference in Muar, he said the police had yet to receive reports on the two female media practitioners who were allegedly touched and pinched by the bodyguards of a minister while covering the Pulai by-election.
“So far, we have yet to receive a police report regarding the incident.
“At the moment, we have only heard the media’s version of it, but I have yet to receive the full report on the incident.
“We will wait for a statement from the other party,” he told reporters when met after visiting SJKC Pei Chai here.
The Johor Media Club (KMJ) had made allegations of rough treatment of media practitioners, including incidents involving the two female reporters, by the bodyguards of the minister.
In a statement yesterday, KMJ president Mohamad Fauzi Ishak said the incidents took place during two ceramah for the Pulai parliamentary by-election in Taman Anggerik and Taman Dahlia on Tuesday, which was attended by the minister.
“Some of the minister’s bodyguards tried to obstruct media personnel from carrying out their duties, and one of them allegedly touched a female reporter’s hand a few times while she was recording the press conference with her smartphone.
“At another ceramah, one of his bodyguards pinched another female reporter’s lower back a few times while a press conference with the minister was ongoing.
“The reporter’s voice saying ‘jangan sentuh saya’ (do not touch me) can even be heard in the voice recording of the press conference.
“At the same event, one of the bodyguards was said to have shoved a photographer’s camera while he was taking photos of the press conference,” Mohamad Fauzi said in a statement on Friday.
