Education Minister Maszlee Malik has said he remained committed to freedom of expression, and that it was his officers who had negotiated with police for the release of two student activists arrested today.
The students were picked up by police earlier this morning following a sit-in protest at the Education Ministry in Putrajaya.
The minister said the arrest happened after the group of students had moved from the ministry's compound to the main entrance used by several ministries.
"It is understood that a majority of the protesting group agreed to disperse. Two, however, refused and these two were questioned by authorities.
"Even though arrested by police, my officers, on humanitarian grounds and due to concern for the welfare of the two students, immediately discussed with the police in Putrajaya up to 7am so that the students be released.
"They (students) were freed on bail later this morning," he said in a statement.
The students, Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi and Siti Nurizzah Tazali, were part of a small group staging a protest there yesterday to demand that Maszlee immediately step down as president of the International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM).
[More to follow] - Mkini
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