Singaporean arrested for inciting violence on Facebook

[konglanjiaowei]

Singaporean arrested for inciting violence on Facebook
Posted: 25 August 2010 1726 hrs
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SINGAPORE: A Singaporean man who attacked on Facebook the ruling party and urged people to "burn" a cabinet minister has been arrested on charges of inciting violence, police said Wednesday.

In a statement, police said they had arrested a "man in his late 20s" on Tuesday "in connection with investigations into offences related to incitement of violence".

The statement did not name the man or give details of the offence, but said he was released on bail pending further investigation.

Local media identified him as Abdul Malik Ghazali, 27, who posted a series of comments on the social networking site critical of how Singapore is hosting the inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG).

Abdul Malik, who works for a company specialising in wood and flooring, said on his Facebook page that he was arrested "due to my involvement in anti-YOG and anti-PAP (People's Action Party) Facebook pages".

One of his postings highlighted recent floods in Singapore, the escape of detained terror suspect Mas Selamat Kastari, the amount of money spent to host the games and reports of the poor standard of food served for games volunteers.

He said it was time to "burn" the sports minister and the PAP.

Abdul Malik said in comments published Wednesday by "The New Paper" that "the comment is a metaphor".

"I did not intend for it to be taken literally. I did not mean for someone to actually burn," he said.

Some in cyberspace rallied to Abdul Malik's defence.

One Facebook poster calling himself "Kok Meng" wrote "seems like even metaphors are forbidden these days".

"Police should get a grip and let loose. We are a democracy."

-AFP/wk

 

[Taishi Ci]

Man held for FB remarks


Aug 25, 2010
Man held for FB remarks

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The comment, posted by Mr Abdul Malik Mohammed Ghazali on Aug 18, said it was time to 'burn Vivian Balakrishnan and the PAP'. -- PHOTO: AFP

<!-- story content : start --> A 27-YEAR-OLD Singaporean man has been arrested for a critical comment on the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) which he posted on social networking site Facebook. The comment, posted by Mr Abdul Malik Mohammed Ghazali on Aug 18, said it was time to 'burn Vivian Balakrishnan and the PAP'. Dr Balakrishnan is Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports.

Police officers picked up Mr Abdul Malik at his workplace on Tuesday morning, and also seized his computer. Police have classified the offence as related to 'incitement on violence'. The comment was posted after 21 YOG volunteers suffered food poisoning over the Aug 14 weekend. Mr Malik's comments appeared on the 'I hate the Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Organising Committee' group.

The project executive also wrote: 'Rally together and vote them out.' Mr Abdul Malik was released on bail on Tuesday. Investigations are ongoing.
In comments to The New Paper, published on Wednesday, he said 'the comment is a metaphor'. 'I did not intend for it to be taken literally. I did not mean for someone to actually burn,' he said.

 

[Taishi Ci]

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Abdul Malik Mohammed Ghazali posted comments related to the YOG. -- PHOTO: INTERNET
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