In Malaysia, viral video linked to Borneo secessionists sparks police investigation

Police in Malaysia have launched an investigation into a viral video filmed in Australia depicting the national flag being replaced by the flags of Sabah and Sarawak.

Recorded on September 16 in front of Parliament House in Melbourne, the video has garnered significant attention on Malaysian social media.

As of Monday, authorities had received 35 reports concerning the video: 34 from Sabah and one from a person in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysian Police Inspector-General Razarudin Husain told a press conference.

He said preliminary investigations indicated that the footage was disseminated by a Malaysian national living in Sabah, who has a history of legal issues, including previous charges for defamation and improper use of communication networks.

“We are investigating the connection between the suspect and the individual who was seen carrying out the act” of lowering the flag, Razarudin said, according to Bernama news agency.