High-tech war on cybercrime

Police from the cybercrime unit will be equipped with the latest high-tech gadgets to effectively combat online offences.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Ismail Omar said this was necessary, especially in the wake of recent postings on social networking sites such as Facebook and YouTube.

He said combating cybercrime would be a priority as police realised that the force had to adapt to an era where information travelled at rapid speed and was circulated locally as well as globally.

“We will come up with a new mechanism and procedures to deal with cases involving the Internet, especially on Facebook,” he told reporters after his inaugural visit to the Johor police headquarters here yesterday.

“We are especially concerned with news or information on the Internet that can disrupt racial relations and the country’s harmony.”

He was responding to a video on YouTube where a preacher in Kuching, Sarawak, allegedly insulted Islam.

Ismail said the police would cooperate with other agencies such as the MCMC to get to the bottom of the matter.

On Tuesday, pro tem president of the Muslim Bloggers Association Zainol Abideen drew attention to the video clip of a “priest” delivering a talk at a church in Kuching and allegedly insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

“If there is an element where the police can act, then we will take action against the culprit,” Ismail said.

“The matter could be investigated under the Sedition Act.” Every­­­one needed to be mindful of the impact their statements could have, he added.

On another matter, Ismail said the police would act on unsolved cases if full cooperation was given by the complainant or victims of crimes.

“We will act on old cases if new evidence or leads are discovered,” he said.

“We urge the public who want the police to act on old cases to come forward and give us their full cooperation.”

He also wanted people to go straight to the police if they had any grievances and not highlight the matter in the media.

The Star Online 29/09/10