PETALING JAYA, March 7 — PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar was hauled up for police questioning today after she reposted on Instagram a controversial sketch of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak in clown face makeup.
Her lawyer Michelle Yesudas confirmed that the daughter of jailed opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim was questioned for posting the sketch by activist Fahmi Reza, who is also under investigation.
When met outside the police station here, Nurul Izzah labelled the investigation a “trivial matter” and urged the authorities not to waste time and resources probing such matters.
“Today is the first day the Parliament sitting and I was informed that (PKR secretary-general) Rafizi (Ramli) is also being probe today for another matter.
“These actions against us, I believe is particularly to strike fear of self-censorship especially in light of Datuk Najib’s current position in Umno,” she said.
According to Michelle, Nurul Izzah did not answer any of the questions asked by the police during questioning.
“This is an act of harassment by an insecure regime and Nurul Izzah declined to answer the police by exercising her rights to remain silent,” she said.
She added that the case is being investigated under Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Petaling Jaya police chief Asst Comm Mohd Zani Che Din, meanwhile, confirmed that a team from Bukit Aman had recorded the statement of Nurul Izzah.
A conviction under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for the offence of improper use of network facilities or network service will result in a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a maximum one-year jail term or both, and a further RM1,000 fine for each day of the continuation of the offence after conviction.
A conviction under Section 504 for the offence of intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace is punishable with a maximum two-year jail term or fine or both.
Last Sunday, the police also probed sketch artist Fahmi at the Dang Wangi police headquarters for allegedly posting the same clown image on his social media accounts.
