Cops to probe don over claim Chinese schools sow racism

PARLIAMENT | An investigation paper has been opened into academic Teo Kok Seong, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail confirmed.

The professor is being investigated under Section 505 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, Saifuddin said.

“An investigation paper has been opened into the case of Teo’s (above) speech under Section 505 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

“So there is one. I will update (you) from time to time,” he told the Dewan Rakyat this afternoon.

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.

No reports filed against Teo

In a TikTok video posted by the Merdeka Times, Teo claimed that vernacular schools could prevent national unity as Chinese students who were less intelligent could only master the Mandarin language, preventing communication with other races.

“The main issue is that non-Malays, particularly the ethnic Chinese, refuse to integrate into the Malay social structure.

“They look down on Malays, that’s the truth,” he said.

Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail

Last Monday, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok called for the police to probe Teo, contrasting 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.

Earlier in his speech, Saifuddin had said there were no reports filed against Teo.

Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal (PN-Machang) then stated that Merdeka Times owner Firdaus Wong will be questioned by the police this week over the matter.

He asked Saifuddin why Wong was to be questioned.

Saifuddin corrected himself later in his speech.

Last Tuesday, Teo 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