KUALA LUMPUR – Lembah Jaya assemblyman Syed Ahmad Syed Abdul Rahman Alhadad, popularly known as Altimet, has urged police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to investigate a controversial social media post related to race, religion, and royalty (3R) issues.
The post, published by the football fan page Bola Tribe on Facebook, featured a photo of a Buddhist temple with the word “Tokong” (meaning temple in Malay) on its facade.
Above the entrance, a large sign read “Home of Selangor FC”, accompanied by the Football Association of Malaysia and Malaysian Football League (MFL) logos altered with phallic symbols.
A monk dressed in red and yellow robes, matching the colours of Selangor FC, sat in a meditative pose at the temple’s entrance.
The caption read, “Good morning temple people in Kelana Jaya.”
The image was perceived as mocking a place of worship, which falls under the 3R category of religion.
Altimet responded swiftly, tagging the Royal Malaysia Police, MCMC, and Communication Minister Fahmi Fadzil in a tweet, urging them to take action against the post.
“Please investigate @PDRMsia @fahmi_fadzil @MCMC_RASMI,” Altimet tweeted today.
There was also an image posted by Bola Tribe depicting a meditating monk with the text “The Real Tokong” overlaid, and the figure’s face covered by the Selangor FC logo.
This incident follows the recent controversy involving Selangor FC and the Malaysian Football League (MFL).
Selangor FC was penalised by the MFL for withdrawing from the 2024-2025 Super League’s Charity Shield match against Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) on May 10.
The sanctions included a RM100,000 fine, a three-point deduction for the season, a ban on spectators for the upcoming Selangor-JDT match, and compensation for the losses incurred by JDT and MFL.
The controversy intensified when the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, described the punishments as excessively harsh.
In response, MFL overturned the points deduction and lifted the spectators’ ban, as well as reducing the fine by 40%.
The offensive post by Bola Tribe has added fuel to the ongoing tension surrounding Selangor FC and the MFL’s decisions.
The call for an investigation highlights the sensitivity and importance of maintaining respect for all religious communities in Malaysia. – June 29, 2024