Kuala Muda district police chief Adzli Abu Shah said the man was arrested in Lenggong, Negeri Sembilan, following a complaint lodged by Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor’s media officer.
Speaking to FMT, Adzli said the man was brought to Sungai Petani to be remanded.
However, the magistrate did not allow the remand order and the man was subsequently given police bail at 5pm, Adzli said.
According to Adzli, the complainant had claimed the man had insulted the menteri besar by saying he was “displaying his stupidity for all to see” by making remarks on the Covid-19 dead, among others.
Sanusi’s remarks were related to a question by reporters on the status of containers for dead bodies at the Sungai Petani Hospital, following shortage of space at the morgue there.
He then replied that more containers would be made available on an as and when basis.
Sanusi then told the press: “There are enough containers for dead bodies. Anyone who wants to enter, give your names.”
A barrage of attacks ensued, calling Sanusi insensitive for making such a remark, which saw him apologising for the matter a day later.
Meanwhile, Adzli said the case would be investigated for intentional insult to provoke a breach of the peace, abuse of network services and insulting behaviour.
He said an investigation paper under Section 504 of the Penal Code, Section 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955 would be prepared and handed over to the prosecutors.
“We urge the public to not upload offensive content that could humiliate anyone to the extent of breaching the peace,” he told FMT.
The 9:19min video of a man named “Tok Abah” saw him berating Sanusi on Facebook on Saturday.
The video showed the man upset that Sanusi had made callous remarks to well-meaning reporters who asked a genuine question on rising Covid-19 cases in Sungai Petani.
He said the answers given at the press conference were hurtful when many were suffering during the pandemic, and asked Sanusi if he thought the press conference was a “circus” and he could do anything he wanted.
Tok Abah said the press conference was watched by people as far as Brunei and Singapore and Sanusi’s response had embarrassed Kedahans.
He urged all to lodge a police report over Sanusi’s remarks, and then spewed harsh words at the MB, asking him to “change his ways to be ethical” and “to follow the Rukun Negara”.
Tok Abah also roasted Sanusi over the alleged test drive issue and his stance on the white flag movement, telling him that the SOP violation fine he paid could have been donated to a mosque if he had followed the law.