Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said Unity and Social Wellbeing Minister P. Waytha Moorthy will be investigated either under the Penal Code or the Sedition Act 1948 for remarks purportedly made after riots at a Hindu temple. — Picture by Hari Anggara

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 4 — Unity and Social Wellbeing Minister P. Waytha Moorthy will be investigated either under the Penal Code or the Sedition Act 1948 for remarks purportedly made after riots at a Hindu temple, authorities said today.

“Okay, we will investigate either under the Penal Code or the Sedition Act.

“We will make recommendations to the AG,” Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun briefly said in a press conference, referring to the Attorney-General, Tommy Thomas.

Mohamad Fuzi however did not go into details of the exact law which will be used to probe the first-term minister.

Waytha Moorthy’s exact alleged offence was not specified, but Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who was also at the press conference, said that the investigation would probably focus on Waytha Moorthy’s statement allegedly made in the wake of a riot at the Sri Maha Mariamman Devasthanam temple in Subang Jaya.

On Sunday, Muhyiddin said that he is leaving it to the police concerning the probes on Waytha and Selangor state executive councillor V. Ganabatirau.

The probes followed alleged seditious and racial remarks made by the two politicians in the wake of the riot at the Sri Maha Mariamman Temple in USJ 25.

Muhyiddin said the police would investigate anyone who issued statements that were not true.

“If statements are made, we have to see if they are of a racist nature or have seditious tendencies. We will see if the statements are true or not, if there is basis, the police can act,” he told reporters after visiting the temple.

He said this when asked about certain quarters questioning why no action was taken against Waytha Moorthy and Ganabatirau when police arrested blogger Wan Muhammad Azri Wan Deris or Papa Gomo in Sepang yesterday for allegedly making racist and seditious remarks.