Three actors arrested, police hunt individual who shared Rukun Negara parody video

KUALA LUMPUR, 22 SEPTEMBER 2026 —

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia — Malaysian police have detained three actors to assist in an investigation into a viral video of a theatrical performance accused of mocking the Rukun Negara, the nation’s six principles of unity, and containing elements deemed sensitive to racial harmony.

The incident centers on a ten-minute theatrical performance that took place in 2018 at the Penang Performing Arts Centre, known as PenangPAC, in the state of Penang. According to Datuk M Kumar, Director of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) at Bukit Aman, the performance was originally held as a closed event and did not attract any police reports at the time it was staged.

However, the video gained significant traction recently after it was re-uploaded to social media platforms around the time of Malaysia Day celebrations. The footage depicts five actors reciting the principles of the Rukun Negara, interspersed with satirical comments and statements that authorities claim could undermine social cohesion.

M Kumar disclosed the details during a press conference following the launch of Ops Pedo 3.0 at Bukit Aman on Tuesday. He stated that police had identified five individuals involved in the 2018 performance. Of these, three were detained to provide statements before being released on police bail.

The remaining two individuals are not currently in custody; one has passed away, while the other is believed to be residing in the United Kingdom, according to immigration records. The three detainees consist of one male and two females, who were apprehended at various locations in the states of Selangor and Johor.

The investigation is being conducted under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. These laws are frequently invoked in cases involving content deemed to threaten public order or national security. The CID’s Special Investigation Unit (USJT) has taken over the case following a police report filed in response to the viral spread of the video.

The unit is currently examining the background of the event’s organizers to determine the full scope of the production and its intent.

A key focus of the current inquiry is the identification of the person who re-uploaded the video, as this individual is not among the original cast members. M Kumar noted that a thorough examination of the mobile phones and electronic devices belonging to the three detained actors yielded no copies of the performance recording or related content.

“That is why we are tracing the individual who uploaded and spread the video, because the recording was not found in their storage,” he said. This distinction is for the prosecution, as the act of re-distributing the content may carry separate legal implications from the original performance.

The case has drawn attention to the intersection of artistic expression and legal boundaries in Malaysia. The Rukun Negara, which outlines principles such as belief in God, loyalty to King and Country, supremacy of the Constitution, rule of law, kindness and morality, and harmony and unity, is a foundational element of Malaysian civic education. Any perceived mockery or distortion of these principles is treated with significant seriousness by law enforcement and political stakeholders.

The fact that the performance occurred eight years ago but only became a national issue recently highlights the persistent power of social media to resurface past events and trigger immediate legal and political responses.

Police have indicated that the investigation remains ongoing. M Kumar stated that once the inquiry is complete, the case file will be referred to the Attorney General’s Chambers for further instructions. This referral is a standard procedure in serious criminal matters in Malaysia, where the Attorney General holds the final authority on whether to prosecute.

The outcome of this case will likely be closely watched by civil society groups, artists, and legal experts, as it may set a precedent for how historical artistic works are treated under current sedition and communication laws.

The broader context of this investigation includes the heightened sensitivity surrounding racial and religious issues in Malaysia. The authorities’ emphasis on the "sensitivity" of the content suggests that the primary concern is the potential to incite public disorder or deepen communal divisions. While the original performance was a closed event, its digital resurrection has transformed a local theatrical piece into a national legal matter.

The police have not yet announced when the investigation will be concluded, but the active search for the uploader indicates that authorities are determined to hold all parties responsible for the spread of the content accountable. The case shows the complex legal landscape in which Malaysian artists and citizens operate, where the line between satire and sedition remains a subject of intense debate and legal scrutiny.

Related: Bukit Aman · Datuk M Kumar · Kuala Lumpur