Hafez Sabri, the PAS assemblyman for Manjoi, issued a public apology on Monday for a Facebook post that misidentified the individual involved in a security breach at the Perak state-level National Day celebration, which sparked widespread criticism for its racially charged content. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, involved a woman rushing onto the stage toward Sultan Nazrin Shah during the Perak anthem.
Hafez admitted that his initial post, based on early unverified information, incorrectly identified the suspect. He claimed that “irresponsible parties” circulated a screenshot of the post before he could correct it within minutes, amplifying a false narrative suggesting he was stoking racial tensions. The original post has since been deleted.
“Unfortunately, some parties quickly captured and shared my initial post, portraying it as though I was playing the racial card,” Hafez stated in a follow-up Facebook post. “I had no intention of raising racial or ethnic issues. Security breaches are unacceptable, regardless of who is responsible. I apologize for my error, as I, too, am human and not immune to mistakes.”
Hafez confirmed he has lodged a police report regarding the matter.
Police previously clarified that the suspect, a 41-year-old Malay woman with a history of psychiatric treatment, was detained after approaching the stage. Ipoh police chief Abang Zainal Abidin Abang Ahmad stated she has been remanded until Wednesday, with investigations underway under Sections 325 and 511 of the Penal Code for attempted grievous hurt.
In response to Hafez’s post, DAP Youth wings in Penang and Negeri Sembilan have filed police reports against him, citing concerns over the misleading and inflammatory content.
