50 Reports Received Over Zamri Mufti By Perlis Police

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Controversial preacher Muhammad Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu has been released on police bail. (Facebook pic)GEORGE TOWN: Perlis police have received nearly 50 reports over the past week from the public related to alleged insults to Hinduism by a preacher and threats made against him and the state mufti
State police chief Noor Mushar Mohd said the reports centred around four complaints — a viral video of preacher Muhammad Zamri Vinoth Kalimuthu allegedly insulting Hinduism in a religious lecture; a viral video of a man threatening the Perlis mufti, Zamri and Indian preacher Dr Zakir Naik; a threatening Facebook message sent by a man from Seremban to the Perlis mufti, and a Facebook Live video by an ex-radio DJ who allegedly threatened Zamri
Speaking to FMT, Mushar said at the moment, three men had been arrested, while police were looking for another man from Seremban
He said the three arrested included Zamri, who was released on police bail yesterday after the end of his remand
Zamri was arrested under Section 298A of the Penal Code (which deals with causing disharmony, disunity, or feelings of enmity, hatred or ill will, the maintenance of harmony or unity on grounds of religion), and also misusing the internet services, under Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998
There were 34 reports against Zamri for insulting Hinduism in Perlis
Mushar said the other two men arrested were being probed based on two separate complaints
One complaint was made by Perlis mufti Mohd Asri Zainul Abidin on May 1 against a 36-year-old man from Penang for sending lewd and threatening messages through FB Messenger to Asri
The man, an office clerk, had texted the mufti for a duel, among others. He is being investigated for criminal intimidation under Section 506 of the Penal Code and was arrested early yesterday
The other complaint was by Zamri against a 39-year-old former Tamil radio station deejay who had aired a heated telephone conversation between them on FB Live on May 2
The ex-DJ will be investigated for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace and criminal intimidation under sections 504 and 506 of the Penal Code against Zamri. The man would also be investigated for misusing internet services under the CMA Act 1998
He was arrested yesterday at the Sentul police station in Kuala Lumpur and was brought to the Perlis police headquarters this morning. Police will apply for a remand order for him tomorrow
A total of seven police reports, including one by Zamri himself, were made in Perlis against this ex-DJ
Mushar said as for the wanted man, police were in the midst of tracking him
The suspect is a 37-year-old man from Seremban who had recorded a video hurling insults against the mufti, leaving his phone number at the end of the video. The clip has since gone viral on WhatsApp
The wanted man was arrested three different times in 2016 to 2018 for offences related to causing disharmony and theft of motor vehicles offences under the Penal Code
“I would like to advise the public to not make statements that are deemed insulting to anyone’s religion or something that can cause disharmony among Malaysians. We will uphold the rule of law and investigate all complaints,” Mushar said
Zamri denies insulting HinduismEarlier, Zamri, in a statement denied insulting Hinduism and said he was not angry with those who had made reports against his preaching
He said he was the “real victim in this issue that was played up by irresponsible groups who are anti-Islam and anti-Malays”
He claimed Pakatan Harapan leaders, such as P Waytha Moorthy, M Kula Segaran and Deputy Penang Chief Minister II P Ramasamy, had insulted Islam and Malays but did not face action
He thanked the police, some of whom were Hindus, for being professional during his detention
In his viral video, Zamri said he became a Muslim because he could not accept idol worship and expressed regret at being unable to convert the rest of his family and close friends to Islam. - FMT

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