• UPDATED 1.40PM | Added comments from police, and PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man

Police have arrested three men over racist social media postings in connection to the recent shooting incident in Bayan Lepas, Penang.

Bukit CID deputy forensics director Mohd Dzuraidi Ibrahim says two of the men were arrested in Kedah, while the other was arrested in Penang.

All arrests were carried out on Sept 26 and were brought to the Dang Wangi police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur for remand.

The arrests are over allegations on social media that a man whom the police shot had gone amok allegedly after two people insulted Prophet Muhammad.

The trio is being probed under Section 505(c) which covers statements contributing to public mischief, which is punishable with up to two years jail, a fine, or both.

They are also being probed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act which is punishable with a fine of up to RM50,000, up to one year in jail, or both.

Meanwhile, Dzuraidi also reiterated that police will be investigating Puteri Umno vice-chief Nurul Amal Mohd Fauzi, who repeated the social media allegations at a ceramah in Kelantan on Wednesday.

"We will investigate all statements, including by the Puteri Umno leader. (However) as of now, there are no (police reports) yet," he said.

Nurul Amal's remarks came hours after Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador had warned against the spread of false allegations regarding the case.

He said based on police investigations, they found that the man was heavily influenced by clips from the Middle East, purportedly showing the plight of Muslims in the region.

On Monday, police shot dead the 25-year factory worker who ran amok, causing the death of a 47-year old female supervisor and injured a 53-year old security manager.

Penang police said the suspect is believed to have been suffering from depression for several months and had been absent from work for a week.

Penang Southwest District police chief AA Anbalagan said police who arrived at the scene told the man to surrender but he instead attacked them with a parang, prompting the officers to shoot in self-defence.

Meanwhile, PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man expressed concern that provocations concerning the shooting could lead to racial conflict if not curbed.

He also asked the public not to speculate on whether the man had died a martyr.

"There are many versions going around in social media about the incident that people are making all sorts of conclusions.

"PAS urges the public to leave the matter to those with the authority to determine if the (man shot dead) is a martyr. The public does not have the standing to do so,": he said.

He also urged the public to let the police investigate the matter.