Malaysian pensioner arrested for 'insulting prime minister Najib Razak on Whatsapp'

76-year-old author arrested under Malaysia’s strict Communications and Multimedia Act

Malaysia's Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was the target of the allegedly insulting message (AFP/Getty Images)

A 76-year-old author was arrested and held for three days by Malaysian police after allegedly insulting the country’s prime minister in a WhatsApp message.

The suspect, who goes by the name Pa Ya on the messaging application, posted a photograph to on the group ‘Malay Political Commentary’ on Saturday which was deemed to be offensive by police.

The man’s mobile phone was seized during his arrest at home in Petaling Jaya near Kuala Lumpur and was taken into custody. He was released on Wednesday afternoon on bail.

The office of the public prosecutor confirmed it was still deciding whether to charge the man for insulting Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, under section 233 of Malaysia’s strict Communications and Multimedia Act.

The law allows the state to prosecute anyone who sends online content that is "obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person", although the definition of the act has been stretched to protect royalty and political leaders.

In a statement police commissioner Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said: “The photo has insulted and hurt the feelings of Malaysians.”

The man was released after concerns about his “high blood pressure and kidney problems”, a police source told The Star.

In June a Malaysian teenager was jailed for a year for posting derogatory comments about his state’s royal family on Facebook.

As well as a jail term, the charge carries a fine in excess of RM50,000 (£9,200).

In May, Johor’s crown prince Tunku Ismail publicly appealed to police not to arrest anyone else making derogatory comments about him or his family under the multimedia laws.

Last month, Malaysian street artist Fahmi Reza was charged in court for producing a clown caricature of the prime minister that went viral.