3 pelakon teater persenda Rukun Negara ditahan

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have detained three of five known actors involved in a 2018 theater production accused of distorting the Rukun Negara, Malaysia's guiding principles, according to a video capture. The three detained actors are being held for aiding investigations under Section 4(1) of the Penal Code 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Head of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department, M Kumar, stated that the three individuals were detained in Selangor and Johor about three days ago before being released on police bail. "One of the five relevant actors has passed away, while another is believed to be in the United Kingdom," Kumar said after a media briefing at Bukit Aman.

Investigation of the three accused individuals found no evidence of the performance or Rukun Negara-related content on their phones, gadgets, or social media accounts. The production reportedly took place at the Penang Art Center (PAC) in Penang on 2018, and no police report was made at the time regarding the incident. "Police are still investigating the background of the theater group involved and the circumstances of the production at that time," Kumar added.

On Saturday, Kuala Lumpur Police Chief Fadil Marsus reportedly said that the Criminal Branch Unit (CBU) at Bukit Aman took over the investigation following a report made at the Jalan Tun Razak police station regarding the dissemination of the 10-minute video showcasing five actors reciting the Rukun Negara principles, which were allegedly offensive to ethnic sensitivities.

Kumar stated that police will complete the investigation before referring the case file to the Attorney General's Chambers for further guidance and advice.