Two police reports were lodged over false news that the Raja Muda of Selangor had converted to Catholicism.

Selangor prince lodges report over 'conversion' article

BY ALLISON LAI

THE STAR

 

KLANG: Two police reports were lodged at the Seksyen 6 police station in Shah Alam over false news that the Raja Muda of Selangor had converted to Catholicism.

The reports were lodged by the Selangor Sultan's private secretary Datuk Mohamad Munir Bani and the crown prince’s private secretary Hanafisah Jais at 4pm Monday.

In the reports, the complainants said they came across the post by a user named “Rahim Tambychik” that were deemed fictitious while browsing Facebook at the Istana Mestika in Seksyen 7, Shah Alam at about 8am last Friday.

The post said: “The news of Selangor crown prince, Tengku Amir Shah having converted to Catholics truly saddens Muslims nationwide and around the world. This sad news is added with two other tragedies that befell Muslims in Mecca and Arafah. May the Selangor Sultan’s wish of meeting the Pope of Vatican City comes true.”

The complainants said the post "is utterly baseless, untrue and slanderous."

"Therefore, an executive action should be taken by the police on this Facebook user named “Rahim Tambychik” to avoid any negative assumption of the Selangor crown prince and also the Selangor royal family.

"It is believed that this action will stop any form of abuse and wild accusations levelled towards the crown prince and the Sultan of Selangor by unscrupulous parties so that the people’s trust towards the crown prince and the Sultan of Selangor as head of state is preserved and sustained,” they said.

Police investigations showed that the allegation was based on an old and fake article published online, followed by Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar's warning to netizens not to spread such rumours on July 25.

It is learnt that the Facebook page of “Rahim Tambychik” is no longer searchable and police believed that it has been deleted.

The case was being investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code for criminal defamation, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for improper use of network facilities or network service.