KUALA LUMPUR: : Journalist Rex Tan, who was detained by police after midnight, has been released.
His lawyer, Rajsurian Pillai, told the New Straits Times that Tan was released at 1.15pm.
Meanwhile, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) director Datuk M. Kumar said Tan was released on police bail following the recording of his statement.
"We also seized his phone to facilitate investigations," Kumar said when contacted by Harian Metro today.
Earlier today, Kumar said three reports had been lodged against Tan, whose question at a recent lecture on the Gaza conflict drew public backlash,
Tan is being investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, Section 505 of the Penal Code for statements conducing to public mischief, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) for misuse of network facilities.
The offences are punishable by jail terms and hefty fines upon conviction.
Tan, who was attached to Free Malaysia Today, has apologised over the matter and has since resigned from the news portal.
The case stems from Tan's question at a lecture titled "Gaza Exposes the Complicity of International Actors", which featured United Kingdom politician George Galloway and sparked public backlash.
Tan has expressed regret over what he described as a poorly constructed question that touched on race and was widely criticised as insensitive.
He said he did not intend to provoke any community, including Malays, Chinese or Palestinians, and apologised for the tension caused among Malaysians.
The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) has expressed concern over Tan's arrest describing it as unnecessary and punitive, and warning that it reflects poorly on the government's commitment to press freedom. - NST
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