SABAH Deputy Chief Minister Wilfred Madius Tangau will be called in by police over his social media posting, which allegedly incited religious sentiments.

Sabah Deputy Police Chief Zaini Jass said the matter is being investigated under Section 505 (c) of the Penal Code. 

The section refers to any publication with the intent to incite any class or community of persons to commit any offence against another class or community of persons.

On July 22, the youth movements of two parties and several civil societies lodged police reports against Tangau, accusing him of inciting religious hatred with a post on Facebook.

Tangau had on Monday written on the social media platform that an unnamed Sabah leader allegedly organised the mass-Islamisation of Tambunan folks 38 years ago.

He said many Sabahans were forced to convert to Islam by the leader.

Zaini said police have received 20 reports on the post so far.

“We have so far received seven reports from Kota Kinabalu, one from Penampang, four in Sandakan, two from Papar, and one each from Semporna, Sipitang, Kudat, Beaufort, Tambunan and Kuala Penyu,” he said in Kota Kinabalu today. 

Kota Kinabalu Police Chief Habibi Majinji said seven individuals who lodged their reports in the state capital already had their statements taken by the police. 

“We will also be calling the minister when the need arises. The others will also have their statements taken in their respective police districts,” he said.

Tangau, who is Upko president, wrote about the alleged forced mass conversion on Facebook 3 days ago, saying those who refused would not be given land, jobs and others.

His statement was to compare the unnamed leader and current Sabah Chief Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal. 

Tangau’s aide told The Malaysian Insight he is heading to Singapore and will only return to Sabah on Friday. 

Upko’s religious and racial harmony bureau defended Tangau by saying he had no intention to offend Sabah Muslims but was merely recalling a past incident in the hopes that it will not happen again. 

“We understand that there are parties who had been offended and therefore on behalf of Upko, we want to extend our peaceful and harmonious hands. We believe the president has no intention to offend anyone as he himself has family members who are from different religions,” the bureau said.  – July 24, 2019.