PSM member detained under Sedition Act

Khairul Nizam Abd Ghani (second right) with his friends at the Dang Wangi police station, Kuala Lumpur today. Khairul has been detained under the Sedition Act and Communications and Multimedia Act. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, December 28, 2015.

Police have detained Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) committee member Khairul Nizam Abd Ghani for investigation, but the offence has not been specified.

PSM secretary-general Sivarajan Arumugam said Khairul had gone to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters in the capital today to give a statement but was instead arrested.

He said they were informed that Khairul would be detained for investigations under the Sedition Act and Communications and Multimedia Act.

"However, we were not told specifically what is the alleged offence," he told reporters outside the police station.

Sivarajan said police had intended to arrest Khairul when he attended a recent forum in Kuala Terengganu.

"After discussion, the police agreed not to arrest him there and that Khairul will go to Dang Wangi," he said.

Two PSM members have been charged under the Sedition Act and Communications and Multimedia Act.

On November 23, former PSM secretary-general S. Arutchelvan claimed trial to a charge of sedition for making an inflammatory posting on Facebook.

In his posting, Arutchelvan had allegedly criticised the Federal Court's decision against then opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the Sodomy II trial, saying the courts were not independent but politically driven.

He also faces an alternative charge under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act which criminalises the improper use of network facilities.

On October 13, meanwhile, PSM activist Khalid Mohd Ismath was charged in the Johor Baru Sessions Court with three counts of sedition against the Johor royals and another 11 counts under the Communications and Multimedia Act.

- TMI