Zamihan released after court rejects remand extension

Preacher Zamihan Mat Zin has been released from Dang Wangi district police station this afternoon after the court rejected an application to extend his two days remand order.

According to his lawyer, Fakhrul Azman Abu Hassan, Zamihan was released on police bail and driven off in a black Toyota Vellfire at about 2.30pm but was advised to not talk to the press.

"The police had (yesterday) requested for an extension to the remand order but we argued against it.

"Investigations are being carried out for sedition, a bailable offence, so we view that the (remand) detention cannot be the same as for offences that carry mandatory imprisonment," he told reporters outside the police station.

"We feel that investigations have been completed. Now we are just waiting for further instructions if he (Zamihan) will be charged or otherwise," he added.

Asked whether Zamihan had shared any details of the investigation, Fakhrul only said the preacher appeared to be fine and did not reveal further details before leaving.

He also said that Zamihan was not aware of developments which followed his arrest last Wednesday, believed to be over his religious lecture which appeared to criticise Johor Sultan Ibrahim Sultan Iskandar's stance against a Muslim-only laundrette in Johor.

Among others, the Selangor Islamic Religious Department (Jais) had reportedly issued a temporary ban on his lectures at all mosques and surau (Muslim prayer halls) in the state.

While supporters of the NGO Ahli Sunnah Wal Jemaah (Aswaja) had initially mobilised a solidarity gathering to greet Zamihan, who is the group's president, there were only about 10 people outside the police station, including four of Zamihan's 10 siblings.

His eldest brother Mohd Zaini Mat Zin later told reporters that they would be meeting with the controversial preacher later today.

Recalling their times growing up in Kelantan, Zaini said Zamihan has always been an independent person with a firm character.

"In my view that (being firm) has always been his character since a young boy," Zaini added.

Prior to his arrest, Zamihan had defended his allegedly seditious statement, stating that he did not specifically name the Johor sultan in his speech at the Masjid Diraja Tengku Ampuan Jemaah in Shah Alam. - Mkini