Kota Kinabalu: Police view seriously the burning of a poster containing the image of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, reportedly by students on the second day of their protest at Lintasan Deasoka on Sunday.
Sabah Police Commissioner Datuk Jauteh Dikun said the matter would be investigated under the Sedition Act and Penal Code.
They would also look into all conditions that were set for the group to organise the rally after City Police was notified.
“Once completed, we will refer it to the Federal Attorney-General’s office soon as possible for the next course of action,” he told Daily Express, Sunday.
Jauteh was commenting on some participants believed to be Universiti Malaysia Sabah students calling themselves Suara Mahasiswa UMS who set fire to an image of Anwar and a placard at Lintasan Deasoka, Gaya Street, Sunday morning.
Suara Mahasiswa UMS President Fadhil Kasim also attacked the Prime Minister in a social media post after the incident.
The group was earlier given the green light by police to hold the protest rally over government accountability, stronger anti-corruption reforms and long-standing infrastructures issues affecting the campus, especially water supply.
However, in their statement to the press where they expressed surprise over the “unprecedented” approval by the Kota Kinabalu OCPD, among their grouses was one related to the institution of the Sabah TYT.
It was unclear whether this intention was made known to the police when approval was given.
Jauteh said no arrest had been made at press time. “I was made to understand that many tourists witnessed the poster burning incident and this caused fear in a public place,” he said.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Datuk Dr Kasim Mansor, when asked whether they may be expulsed if confirmed to be UMS students, said he would discuss it with the university’s legal advisor, as well as advice from the Ministry of Higher Education before any action is taken.
Federal Deputy Minister of Higher Education Datuk Mustapha Sakmud told Daily Express he is in the midst of gathering facts on the incident and would issue a statement soon.
He said he would also look into the University and College University Act (AUKU) on the position of the students in relation to what happened.
