KUALA LUMPUR — Police arrested the roadside corn seller who used a racist signboard at his stall and are investigating him under sedition laws.
The man, in his 60s, was arrested in Sepang yesterday, the district’s deputy police chief Supt Shan Gopal Krishnan was reported saying by New Straits Times.
Also arrested was the man’s Indonesian wife, whom Shan said had overstayed and is being remanded under the Immigration Act.
The corn seller, however, has been released on police bail today.
“To date, we have taken statements from seven witnesses in connection with the case.
“We have opened investigations under Section 4 of the Sedition Act,” Shan was quoted saying.
The case is also being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for misuse of network facilities, and Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for making statements that cause public fear or alarm, he added.
The hawker’s derogatory sign against ethnic Indians was recorded in a clip posted to TikTok, which went viral.
After backlash from social media users and condemnation from several politicians, the corn seller apologised to Malaysians and to the Indian community in particular, in a gathering facilitated by local Kawasan Rukun Tetangga (KRT) or neighbourhood watch leaders in Sepang on Sunday night.
The man apologised to the Indian community which was represented by locals who lived in the area, in the presence of police and National Unity and Integration Department officers.
Despite his apology, Malaysian Tamil Bell Youth Club has called on police to conduct a thorough investigation into the hawker’s actions.
Umno Youth chief Datuk Dr Akmal Saleh also called for legal action, while DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng said the incident showed that the country needed an Anti-Racial Discrimination Act especially to target extremist politicians whose racial rhetoric has influenced an “ordinary trader” like the corn seller.
In Parliament today, however, National Unity Minister Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said existing laws were sufficient, and there was no need for a new anti-racial discrimination act. – February 18, 2025