BANGI, July 16 – Controversial couple Alvin Tan and Vivian Lee can be charged under several laws including the Sedition Act for mocking Muslims and the holy month of Ramadan on their Facebook page.
However, Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail said a number of considerations had to be made first.
“There are many laws involved. The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has its own law. There is also the Sedition Act 1948 and so on.
“But in determining the charges to be made (against the couple), we have to look at the laws, facts and their motive,” he said at a press conference after opening a seminar on ‘Cybercrime: Current Trends and Practical Challenges’, here, today.
Yesterday, Tan and Lee were present at the MCMC office to give their statement over their offending Facebook posting.
The couple recently posted a picture on their Facebook page, a picture of them enjoying Bak Kut Teh with a caption that has offended the sensitivity of Muslims.
Yesterday, Communication and Multimedia Deputy Minister Datuk Jailani Johari said the couple could be charged under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
If convicted, they can be fined RM50,000 or jailed for one year, or both.
On the Vatican City’s envoy to Malaysia, Bishop Joseph Marino voicing his support for the use of the word “Allah” by Christians, Abdul Gani said he could be investigated even though he had diplomatic immunity as an envoy.
– BERNAMA
