How not to be a laughing stock? Khai Loon probed for CRIMINALLY DEFAMING NAJIB WITH 'KANGKUNG'

Machang Bubuk assemblyman Lee Khai Loon is being investigated for criminal defamation over his "I Love Kangkung" flash mob.

Lee, who gave his statement to the police this afternoon at his service centre in Alma near Bukit Mertajam, said he was interviewed by Seberang Perai Tengah senior investigation officer Hasan Mohd Salleh for 40 minutes.

"I related what happened and explained to the police the purpose of the flash mob.

"It was meant to highlight the price hike issue that is a burden on the people," he told reporters later.

Section 500 of the Penal Code, which outlines the penalty for defamation, stipulates that “whoever defames another shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.”

Lee said he regretted that 10 people - eight from Jitra, Kedah; one from Bukit Mertajam and one from Raub, Pahang - had lodged police reports, despite the fact that the flash mob was held peacefully.

"No insulting or racial remarks were made at the event. I believe this was done to silence me and curb freedom of expression," he said.

When asked if he would apologise for organising the flash mob or repeat it, Lee said he had made his stand and message clear.

He said he hoped the police would investigate the matter fairly.

He said he has lodged a police report over the protest outside his service centre last Sunday that saw a man roughed up by the mob.

At the event, protestors uttered vulgarities, threats and racial remarks, and burned his photograph. They also pasted posters condemning him on the shutters of a shop below his service centre.

Last Wednesday (January 17), Lee organised the flash mob and "fed" kangkung to an effigy of Datuk Seri Najib Razak in response to the prime minister’s remark that the price of the vegetable had gone down.

As netizens criticised and made fun of Najib's remark in the social media, Lee organised the flash mob as a creative and interactive way for the people to highlight the price hike issue.

He has been slammed since then by Umno and some Malay groups who accused him of insulting Najib and the Malays.

Two rallies were held by angry protestors last weekend in Seberang Jaya and outside his office in Alma. Several local Umno leaders attended the rallies and made provocative, fiery speeches that touched on race and religion.

At the Seberang Jaya rally, protestors were seen carrying a banner asking if the opposition wanted another May 13, 1969 racial riot.