We’re watching you: Malaysia’s Twitter police target critics of PM Najib

Digitally savvy Malaysian police have been taking to social media to issue warnings to critics of scandal-hit Prime Minister Najib Razak in an unusual online campaign that critics say is unlikely to work. Najib is facing the biggest political crisis in his seven-year premiership over a multi-billion dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and over deposits of $681 million in his private bank account. Malaysians have taken to social media to voice their exasperation. A caricature of Najib with a clown face and the words “in a country full of corruption, we are all seditious”, was widely shared recently.

The ruling elite of this country has always been intolerant to dissent. They’re always afraid of losing their throne.

Artist Fahmi Reza

The police responded within hours, with an online warning to the artist who drew it, Fahmi Reza, telling him they were watching his Twitter account and he should use it “prudently and in line with the law”, he said. Najib, chairman of the 1MDB advisory board, has denied any wrongdoing and says he did not take any money for personal gain. Attorney General Apandi Ali last week closed investigations of Najib and said the $681m was a donation from a Saudi Arabian benefactor and most of it had been returned. A police spokeswoman confirmed that the Twitter account issuing the warnings was an official Malaysian cyber unit account but she declined to comment on specific warnings, such as the one issued to Fahmi.

Investigations will be carried out on the posts made by the owner of this Twitter account.

Malaysia police respond to a tweet

Malaysia twitter