KULIM: The adage 'don't believe everything you see on social media' proved true in the case of a recent land dispute in Kedah.
In a plot twist, a woman who appeared in a viral video claiming her father's three-acre plot in Kuala Kedah was forcibly seized by his business partner, is not even the fisherman's daughter.
Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said police investigation revealed that the woman is not the complainant's daughter as claimed in the TikTok video.
"Upon investigation, we found she wasn't his daughter. When we questioned his actual daughter, she confirmed the same, so what is the motive here if not to fuel racial animosity? It is inappropriate," he told reporters after attending the Home Ministry's reach out programme at SK Ladang Dublin in Alor Pongsu here today.
Present were the ministry's secretary-general, Datuk Awang Alik Jeman, his deputies, Datuk Abdul Halim Abdul Rahman and Datuk Makhzan Mahyuddin.
Saifuddin expressed regret that the issue was manipulated to stir up racial sensitivity despite being merely a dispute between business partners.
"This issue has been prolonged for far too long. Clearly, the dispute has reached courts, and the Federal Court has made a decision. For the complainant, the (court) decision was not in his favour.
He expressed uncertainty about the complainant's motives, questioning why he would make claims that stir up sentiments, such as alleging that one group is seizing land from another.
Saifuddin added that the complainant had filed 76 police reports and each of the reports had been duly investigated.
"What is the status of the land? It's TOL land (temporary occupancy licence). What did he do? He leased it to someone who built a fish platform on it.
"Initially, their relationship was good, but once they fell out, it escalated to this extent...Nevertheless, we will continue to resolve this matter to its conclusion," he said.
On Wednesday, Abu Ismail Abu Yaziz, 62, called for a fair investigation by the authorities over his case.
He claimed that his three-acre plot in Kuala Kedah was forcibly seized by a former business partner in 2013, using a forged court order to lease the property.
He questioned the validity of the court order, arguing that the land could not legally be leased due to its status as a TOL land.
On Tuesday, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) summoned Abu Ismail to have his statement recorded.
State MACC director Ahmad Nizam Ismail confirmed that three other individuals have also been called for questioning, with relevant documents obtained on Monday.
Last Friday, Kota Setar police chief Assistant Commissioner Siti Nor Salawati Saad confirmed that an investigation is underway to verify documents linked to the dispute, which dates back to 2013.
She added that 75 reports have been filed by both parties, with the matter also being brought to court and dismissed any claims that gang involvement was a factor in the case.