Malaysian police will investigate individuals behind a Facebook page for allegedly insulting Malaysia’s health director-general through a meme, state media reported.

The meme on Facebook page MGAG was allegedly “mocking” Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, health director-general of Malaysia, reported Malaysia’s state news agency Bernama on Wednesday, October 7.

MGAG posted a meme featuring Noor Hisham that was later deemed offensive as it was reportedly edited in a “demeaning” manner.

“Investigations are under way and those involved will be called to testify,” said Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, deputy director of the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department, in an interview with Bernama.

The photo has been deleted while the person who posted it apologized, the Bernama report added.

The investigations come as human rights group criticize the lack of free speech in Malaysia. In June, Human Rights Watch said Malaysia’s new administration “is increasingly using abusive laws to investigate and prosecute speech critical of the government.”

One of the latest press freedom issues in Malaysia erupted in August, when Malaysian authorities raided the Kuala Lumpur office of Al Jazeera as they investigated a documentary that angered the government.

Threats to free speech persist elsewhere in Southeast Asia, including the Philippines, where human groups say the government is cracking down on critics. – with reports from Rain Matienzo/Rappler.com