Kuala Lumpur, EL SKY NEWS — A university student from Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al‑Sultan Abdullah (UMPSA) has been detained by police following the circulation of a viral social media post that allegedly showed him insulting Islam, including an image purportedly showing a person stepping on the Quran and offensive comments about Prophet Muhammad.
The Pahang police confirmed the arrest on Wednesday morning and said they will seek a remand order to further investigate the matter. The student is being probed under multiple laws, including:
- Section 295 of the Penal Code for acts intended to insult religion, which can attract up to two years’ imprisonment and a fine, and
- Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities to transmit offensive or abusive content, which can carry up to one year’s jail and a fine of up to RM50,000, or both.
The controversial post first spread on social media platform Threads, triggering widespread public concern and prompting police action.
Authorities Respond and Call for Responsibility
Government leaders and ministries have emphasized the seriousness of the incident, urging Malaysians to avoid spreading hateful or provocative content online. The National Unity Ministry reminded the public that issues touching on religion, race and royalty (3Rs) are highly sensitive and must not be trivialized.
The Ministry of Higher Education also assured that authorities are handling the case according to law and urged calm, noting that public order and harmony should not be jeopardized.
Meanwhile, UMPSA has formed an internal investigation committee and pledged to take disciplinary action if the student is found guilty under university regulations.
The case continues to unfold as investigations proceed, with police, government officials and university authorities all involved in addressing the incident.
