Why the need to seize phones during probe, says ex-law minister

 

Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim is being investigated for sedition over a social media post that touched on royalty.

PETALING JAYA: Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim, who is being investigated for sedition, has questioned the need for police to confiscate his phone.

Zaid said it was unnecessary to do so when the “person under investigation admitted to writing the tweet”.

He suggested that the Malaysian Bar and other human rights groups should look into the Communications and Multimedia Act.

“Making it an offence to express oneself is bad enough, but to impoverish them by taking their phones is cruel,” he said in another tweet today.

Zaid was questioned by Bukit Aman under the Sedition Act yesterday over a post on X (formerly Twitter) which touched on the royalty.

In January, police also seized the phones belonging to aides to economic affairs minister Rafizi Ramli and Bentong MP Young Syefura Othman.

Both Farhan Iqbal and Noor Suhana Ishak also questioned the need to have their phones seized.

In June, FMT reported that graphic artist and activist Fahmi Reza had his phone returned a year after it was confiscated when the police investigated him over a satirical poster.

The police had seized a phone and a SIM card for investigation under the Sedition Act as well as the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. - FMT