Cops take Teo's statement over vernacular schools row

 

The police have taken academic Teo Kok Seong’s statement over his controversial remarks on vernacular schools.

Brickfields district police chief Ku Mashariman Ku Mahmood told Malaysiakini that Teo was being investigated under Section 505(c) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act. 

“Only the conversation was recorded,” he briefly said when asked by Malaysiakini. 

It was also understood that neither Teo’s phone nor laptop was confiscated by the police to help with the investigation.

Section 505(c) relates to statements causing public alarm, while Section 233 relates to offences involving improper use of network services.

Section 505 of the Penal Code criminalises the spread of fake news with the intention to cause public fear, which is punishable by a jail term of up to two years, a fine, or both.  

Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 stipulates offences of using network facilities to transmit communication deemed to be offensive or could cause annoyance to another person, which can be punished with up to a year’s jail, a fine up to RM50,000, or both.

Previously, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok called for the police to probe Teo, comparing the issue with the investigations opened against her fellow party members Lim Kit Siang and Tony Pua. 

In her debate of the royal address in Parliament, Kok condemned Teo’s “racist and twisted statements”, which she claimed distorted the relationship between the Malay and Chinese communities.

Teo reportedly defended his claims, telling Malaysiakini that Kok was “in denial” over the realities among the Chinese Malaysian community.

Teo, who was involved in drafting the National Education Blueprint 2013-2025, claimed that even Malays and Indians are aware of this sentiment among the Chinese community. - Mkini