Cops will take action against sock-gate vigilantes, Saifuddin assures

Those who took matters into their own hands in the Allah socks controversy will also be investigated, said Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.

Saifuddin said in a country with laws, the police are the enforcers of the law and people must not take unilateral action against others.

“Police will take action, not only against the perpetrators but also against anyone who takes matters into their own hands,” he said during a questions and answer session at a breaking fast programme in Putrajaya, today.

“If we allow that (vigilantism), what would become of our nation?” he added.

Last Friday, a 35-year-old man was sentenced to six months in jail and fined RM12,000 for posting offensive Facebook comments, poking fun at the Allah socks controversy.

The day before, a 33-year-old in Sabah was also sentenced to six months’ jail and fined RM15,000 over a similar act.

In both cases, the two were doxxed online and confronted in person, forcing them to apologise.

While admitting the gravity of the matter, Saifuddin said the government wished to move on from the matter.

“Yes, the issue is a big thing but the government wants to move one. We don’t want to linger around the same polemic again and again,” he said. 

“Let’s not prolong the matter. We want to talk about people’s issues, the economy, and subsidies,” he added. - Mkini