In a statement last night, Selangor police chief Hussein Omar Khan said police had opened an investigation paper under Section 420 of the Penal Code for cheating, and Section 3(1) of the Offences Relating to Awards Act 2017 for the receipt and use of unrecognised awards.

“Initial investigations found that the owner of the Facebook account clearly called himself a Datuk Seri, claiming that the title was granted by the sultan of Selangor.

“It has been confirmed that the owner of the Facebook account never received a title from the Selangor sultan, and that he used a fake Datuk Seri title,” he said.

Hussein urged the Facebook user to cooperate with the investigation and for those with information on the person to contact the police at 03-5520-2222.

“Police will take stern action against any person who uses an invalid honour or title,” he said.

Hussein said the use of a fake Datuk Seri title was punishable under Section 3(3) of the Offences Relating to Awards Act 2017 by up to three years’ imprisonment.

“The offence under Section 420 of the Penal Code is punishable by imprisonment of no less than a year and no more than 10 years,” he said.