Student claims Umno man stole her photo for anti-Bersih propaganda

Atyrah Hanim Razali, a Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia student, alleged her photograph was stolen by an Umno leader and edited for anti-Bersih propaganda on Facebook.

The Sabah activist said a photograph of herself holding up a "Save Ulu Papar" placard was edited so that the words read "Kami Tolak Bersih" (We reject Bersih) instead.

Eight of her friends who held up the same "Save Ulu Papar" placard also had the words edited into "Kami Tolak Bersih".

"Umno is so desperate that it needs to steal people's photographs and photoshop them," said Atyrah in a Twitter posting.

The eight other activists who had their photograph manipulated were Farhan Haziq, Yana Rizal, Maryam Lee, Calvin Woo, Hafizz Dzulkifli, Imran Rasid, Chloe Cheong and Miswar Abdul Halim.

"We are shocked when we saw our photographs were edited and circulated on Facebook by Selangor Umno information chief Zain Isma Ismail.

“It is intended to defame us and is also an offence under the Communication and Multimedia Act for spreading falsehood on social media.

"We demand that Zein Isma apologise to us within 24 hours, failing which legal action will be taken," the nine said in a joint statement later.

The edited photographs were put together into a collage and uploaded to Facebook by Zein on Tuesday.

'Go ahead, lodge a police report'

When contacted, Zein said he did not know the photographs were manipulated.

"I didn't know, I was only sharing other people's (picture). Many (Whatsapp) group were sharing them, I took from the groups," he told Malaysiakini.

However, Zein refused to give in to the students' demands and threat of legal action.

"If they want to lodge a police report against me, go ahead, I only made the picture viral.

"The police will be able to trace (who really edited it)," he said.

He added that many others were also sharing the picture and if police were to take action, they too should be arrested.

Zein also reiterated that the Nov 19 Bersih 5 rally should not go ahead and backed the anti-Bersih red shirts movement.

"I will join in, it'll not only be the red shirts, we will confront (Bersih) all out," he said. -Mkini