POLICE have opened investigations into inflammatory social media postings on Sultan Muhammad V’s abdication as the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the postings were allegedly inappropriate and inflammatory.

He added there were many police reports lodged against some of the social media postings but could not give figures offhand.

He said the investigations will be completed soon.

“We’ll then refer it to the deputy public prosecutor for instructions on what the police should do next,” he told reporters in Kuching.

The IGP also appealed to Malaysians “not to exploit the situation” for whatever reasons.

“Our hope in this period of transition is that no one will exploit the situation and raise negative perceptions.”

Comptroller of the Royal Household Wan Ahmad Dahlan Ab Aziz yesterday said Sultan Muhammad V has stepped down as the Agong in line with Article 32(3) of the federal constitution.

Wan Ahmad in a statement said the the Kelantan ruler had also informed the Malay rulers through a letter to the secretary of the Conference of Rulers.

On another matter, the IGP said the probe on the kidnap of five Sarawak villagers by Indonesian soldiers on December 11 will be sent to the attorney-general next week.

The five, aged between 15 and 64 from the village of Danau Melikin, were harvesting wood at a forest some 400m from the Serian-Kalimantan border when they were grabbed by two men whom they claimed were Indonesian soldiers.

The men were all released after two of them, sent to fetch the ransom, raised the alarm.

It sparked a flurry of diplomatic activities leading to Kuala Lumpur sending to Jakarta a protest note condemning the incursion and detention of the men.

Fuzi said security measures have been tightened at villages all along the border to ensure similar incidents will not be repeated in future.

He said while proactive steps have been taken to tighten security and prevent incursions by Indonesian soldiers, the work was not solely the police’s and it was done in conjunction with the army and other security agencies.

“The National Security Council (NSC) is coordinating the action.” – January 7, 2019.