JOHOR police have accused Patrick Teoh of not assisting in their investigation and want to seek an extension to his remand period, which ends tomorrow, reports The Star.

The former radio DJ has been under remand for allegedly insulting Johor Crown Prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim.

The report quoted Johor police chief Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay as saying that investigations could not be completed as Teoh was uncooperative.

“His remand will end on May 12, and we will request for the extension of remand from the magistrates’ court,” he was quoted as saying.

Ayob said police had initially requested a four-day remand after arresting Teoh, but were only given three days.

He added that Teoh had told police that he has forgotten his email password and has lost his phone.

“He lost his phone a day before he was called in for questioning and could not remember his email password, so we will request for an extension of remand.

“It’s baffling because he could remember his password when he was making that obscene statement, but forgot everything after being arrested, so perhaps he could remember his password if he stays a bit longer with us,” he said.

Teoh, a radio personality and actor, was arrested on May 9 after a report was lodged on his posting.

The 72-year-old is believed to have shared a video clip of the crown prince in military uniform and used obscenities in his Facebook comment on it.

The post is no longer on his page.

The case is being investigated under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for the improper use of network facilities.

Meanwhile, Lawyers for Liberty questioned the need for the police to even remand Teoh for three days for further investigation, calling it unnecessary and excessive.

In the time of Covid-19, this also goes against international guidelines which, in the interest of public health, calls for a reduction in the numbers of people held in detention, said director Melissa Sasidaran.

“We therefore urge the authorities not to resort to the use of legislation which criminalises speech and undermines freedom of expression, as section 233 of the CMA does.

“We call upon the police to drop this unnecessary investigation and release Teoh without delay,” she said in a statement.

Another civil society group, Hakam, also urged the police to immediately release Teoh due to his old age, saying that confining him for remand may pose a risk to his health amid the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The group’s secretary-general Lim Wei Jiet, in condemning the arrest, said there is no basis to invoke the remand procedure, as Teoh had at all times cooperated with the police. 

“Hakam wishes to remind authorities to respect the right of personal liberty of the individual who has not yet been proven guilty,” he said in a statement.

Lim said the group is also gravely concerned on the chilling effect of such arrests and investigation on the freedom of expression in Malaysia. 

“We wish to reiterate our position that Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 is unconstitutional, as it is worded in an arbitrary and vague manner, and can be easily abused by authorities to clamp down on any form of dissent in this country.” – May 11, 2020.