KUALA LUMPUR – The authorities have nabbed local author, Victor Yong Jen Ong, after a police report was lodged against him for openly calling for diplomatic ties between Malaysia and Israel in a video that went viral recently.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain confirmed Yong’s arrest and three-day remand until December 8.
Yong, 36, is being investigated by the Classified Crime Investigation Unit (USJT), Prosecution and Legal Division (D5), and under the Sedition Act, Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
The police report against Yong was lodged by Syed Muhammad Shafiq Syed Jaafar, 35, who described himself as a concerned citizen and said Yong’s remarks were worrying.
Yong appeared in a video clip posted on X by Jewish social media personality Hananya Naftali who interviewed the Johor-based Malaysian, who then made pro-Israel remarks.
Among the things Yong said was his view that “misinformation” had “corrupted the Malaysian mindset” against Israel.
The video interview, however, is from 2021, according to a recent statement from Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
“Checks show that it is from YouTube (clip) ‘Malaysia And Israel – From Enemies To Allies?’. Based on YouTube searches, the video was created on Dec 17, 2021, not 2023,” Fahmi was reported saying by Bernama.
He said questions of why no action was taken should be directed to the home minister and the communications and multimedia minister at that time. – December 6, 2023