Melaka: The owner of a four-wheel drive vehicle that went viral for displaying a sticker with Hebrew text has denied supporting Israel, explaining that the sticker merely reflected his interest in the script.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Melaka police chief Datuk Dzulkhairi Mukhtar stated that the 59-year-old retired civil servant claimed the Hebrew text, meaning 'Malaysia is our home' or 'Malaysia is in our hands', had been affixed on the back of his Isuzu 4WD since 2012 without causing any issues in the past.

The retiree lodged a report at the Air Kuning Selatan police station in Gemencheh, Negeri Sembilan, after a video of the vehicle went viral on social media, drawing negative reactions from netizens due to the sticker's sensitive connotations. The Hebrew text was alleged to have been adapted from the original phrase 'Israel is my home', but the man asserted he had no message for Israel.

He explained his interest in foreign scripts such as Russian, Greek, and Hebrew, and mentioned the sticker was ordered from a shop in Selangor in 2012. The vehicle is also frequently used by his brother. Dzulkhairi added that, so far, no directive has been issued for the vehicle owner to remove the sticker.

The case is under investigation under Section 504(b) of the Penal Code for inciting fear or public alarm and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities or services. Dzulkhairi mentioned the police will seek assistance from the Israeli embassy in a neighboring country, as well as language experts, to determine the exact meaning of the phrase. He advised the public against making any speculation or provocation that could disrupt investigations or public order, emphasizing the importance of using the national language to prevent misunderstandings.