Twitter user in police probe for calling MH370 disappearance a ‘conspiracy’

A screenshot of Tan Sri Khali Abu Bakar's posting on Twitter ordering police to investigate 'Fazel'. – January 30, 2015.

For tweeting that Malaysia Airlines flight MH370's disappearance was a "conspiracy" and not an accident, a Twitter user is now the subject of a police investigation, after the country's police chief picked up the tweet and ordered a probe.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar has told the police to investigate the user named "Fazel", who tweeted at the handle @ollie_mollie.

Khalid, who tweets at @KBAB51, posted a screenshot of Fazel's tweet and issued instructions: "PCIRC @PDRMsia Sila kesan dan siasat 'Fazel' di bawah ini" (Please identify and investigate this 'Fazel').

PCIRC is the Police Cyber Investigation Response Centre while @PDRMsia is the Twitter handle for the Royal Malaysian Police.

In the screenshot, Fazel had tweeted a response to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's condolence message to the families of those on MH370.

Fazel had said, "@NajibRazak jib jib..it's not an accident, it's a conspiracy".

His account with the handle @ollie_mollie has since been deleted after a few other Twitter users challenged him to provide evidence for his conspiracy claim.

The police, at the handle @PDRMsia, responded to Khalid's instruction with a reply, "Tan Sri @KBAB51, tindakan sedang diambil oleh pihak PCIRC".

Khalid has in recent times taken to his Twitter account to publicise certain cases, particularly those that involve the Sedition Act and criticism of the authorities.

He announced a probe into human right lawyer Eric Paulsen for accusing the religious authorities of spreading extremism through Friday prayers.

He also reminded Malaysians not to take Malaysia's harmony for granted, warning them of police action if the threatened the peace and security.

He has also used Twitter to demand action against other social media users who have criticised him online.

Former IGP Tan Sri Musa Hassan, while not naming Khalid specifically, had said that police should not reveal too much of their work on social media.

- TMI