The Malaysian Insight

SABAH police commissioner Omar Mammah has warned social media users against inciting hatred towards foreigners, following a recent increase in incidents involving locals and migrants in the state.

Omar warned that those found to be spreading falsehoods would be detained and investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

“We are monitoring social media users and groups that could potentially incite hate.

“We have identified several of them but no arrests have been made so far,” he said.

In a recent incident in Petagas, a senior citizen died in hospital after sustaining injuries following a fight between his son and two Pakistani nationals.

Abdul Shukur Abdullah, 57, was attempting to separate his 31-year-old son and the two foreigners when he was attacked.

A post-mortem confirmed Shukur died from bleeding in the brain. His son, meanwhile, suffered a broken arm and leg.

Omar said one of the Pakistanis, 44, held a green MyKad while the other, 30, had a valid passport.

The suspects, both of whom are married to locals, are in police custody.

Following the incident, members of the public had reacted by burning the vehicles belonging to the Pakistani men.

Last month, the body of Grab driver Mohd Hanafiee Jaafar, who had gone missing days earlier, was found in a mangrove bush in Tuaran.

Two men, including an illegal Filipino migrant, were arrested following information provided by the e-hailing company to the police.

On June 9, a clash between a group of locals and foreigners in Ranau, some two hours away from the capital, Kota Kinabalu, was widely shared by social media users.

Ten individuals were detained to facilitate investigations. – June 14, 2019.