Police are investigating former PKR Baru Uban assemblyperson S Raveentharan for allegedly issuing a "non-harmonious" statement about Islam on his Facebook account.
Penang's Northeast District police chief ACP Mior Faridalatrash Wahid said the case is being probed under Section 298 of the Penal Code for uttering words with deliberate intent to hurt the religious feelings of any person, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities.
If convicted, Raveentharan faces a year’s jail term and fine under the Penal Code, and a RM50,000 fine and possible one-year jail term under the MCMC Act.
"On March 13, 4pm, the Northeast District police headquarters received a report from a representative of (NGO) Pertubuhan Penyebaran Islam Antarabangsa," Mior said in a statement last night.
Mior said the man claimed that while surfing Facebook, he found an account by Raveentharan Subramaniam (the former assemblyperson) who posted "firstly Islam was never a religion of peace".
The posting was reportedly in reference to an online news portal report quoting controversial preacher Zakir Naik who labelled his critics "terrorists".
Mior added that the man lodged a police report, saying that the statement was "provocative and could incite concern and could jeopardise the harmony" among the community.
"The police are carrying out an investigation and are currently collecting statements regarding the matter, we will forward our findings to the prosecution's office soon," Mior said.
Raveentharan, a lawyer, has since apologised for his posting.
The offensive remark has also been deleted from his Facebook account although his critics have screenshot the post and strongly criticised him for allegedly insulting the religion.
PKR dropped Raveentharan, a one-term assemblyperson, from his Batu Uban seat in 2013.- Mkini
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