A teenage student in Malaysia is being investigated under the Sedition Act after he "liked" a Facebook page titled "I Love Israel". State police chief Datuk Abdul Rahim Hanafi said the case is being probed under Section 4 of the Act. The student is now embroiled in a controversy after his liking of the page became known to one of his teachers. The teacher shared it on her Facebook page, criticizing the student, attracting criticism and threats from other Facebook users. There were calls to boycott the student, and one Facebook user commented the student should be burned.
Rahim said, "He is now living in fear for liking the page. He has since shut down his Facebook page and lodged a police report yesterday. The boy and his teacher had gone to give their statements at the Seberang Prai Selatan district police headquarters.
"Several other people, including teachers and students from the same school, will also be called to assist the investigation," he added.
It was reported that the boy claimed he had accidentally clicked "like" for the pro-Israel page.
Seberang Prai Selatan district police chief Superintendent Shafien Mamat said the police will probe why he had liked the page as well as the threats made against him.
Meanwhile, Penang education department director Osman Hussain said the teacher responsible will be served a reminder not to take to Facebook to discuss her students. He said, "If she does it again, she will be transferred out of Penang," he said today, adding that the department's hands are tied since it is now a police case.