Man Allegedly Goes On “Unhinged” Tirade Against Islam; Police Action Imminent

Source: The Rakyat Post

Tan Chong Ren is under scrutiny after a video of him making derogatory remarks against Islam went viral. The footage, shared by Tan on Facebook under the account Tan Speaker Corner, shows him initially speaking calmly while seated in a car before erupting into an angry tirade that many observers found disturbing.

The video quickly garnered attention, prompting viewers to report it to the police. Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa confirmed that the suspect has been identified and they are in the process of gathering his statement. However, there is a slight delay as Tan is currently receiving mental health treatment at a hospital. Rusdi urged the public to refrain from disseminating the video further to avoid inciting public unrest.

The investigation will proceed under various legal provisions, including Section 298A of the Penal Code, Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act 1955.

A History of Controversy

This isn’t the first instance of Tan displaying erratic behavior. A quick search reveals that he had previously gone on a similar rant at London’s Speakers’ Corner around six years ago. While many have chosen to ignore his outbursts, some, including YouTuber Ali Dawah, have confronted him directly, engaging in debates at Hyde Park in 2022.

Tan’s online activity suggests a shift in his tone; while his earlier posts were relatively benign, a dramatic change occurred in October when he labeled Islam as the “public enemy of the world” after claiming that the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) failed to address his complaints through WhatsApp. In that post, he asserted that Islam has “consistently turned a blind eye to atrocities committed by their communities” against non-Muslims and characterized it as a religion with misguided teachings.

Additionally, Tan’s Twitter account has been suspended, and his TikTok profile is currently set to private, indicating a potential attempt to limit his online presence amid the growing backlash.