'No fear, no surrender' - Akmal says as cops detain him in KK

Police have detained Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh upon his arrival in Kota Kinabalu this morning.

The Umno Youth chief could be heard in a mobile phone video recording saying “No fear, no surrender” as he was escorted into a waiting police car at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport.

Akmal confirmed the arrest on his Facebook, saying he was held despite being scheduled to record his statement at the Dang Wangi police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.

“InsyaAllah, I will give full cooperation. Pray for everything to go smoothly.

“Will not budge even an inch from our principles,” the Merlimau assemblyperson said.

In a statement later, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said Akmal is being probed under Section 4(1) Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

The top police officer advised the public not to prolong the KK Mart issue as the people involved have been charged in court and to let the judicial process take over.

“We are now investigating him (Akmal) and the investigation paper will be referred to the Attorney-General’s Chamber (AGC) after every avenue of the probe has been completed,” he said.

Call for arrest

Yesterday, Sarawak Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah called for the police to arrest Akmal for inciting racial disharmony over the latter’s boycott campaign against KK Mart.

Previously, the defiant Umno leader stood tall on his decision to continue his boycott campaign against the convenience chain over the socks row.

His response to Malaysiakini came after the Agong had decreed his “final warning”, calling for all quarters to stand down and refrain from playing up the issue.

Apart from the king, Umno’s central leadership had also advised the youth chief to stop amplifying the issue as critics said his action has invited more divisive narratives to ride on the boycott campaign.

Statement recorded

Akmal was reportedly released after having his statement recorded for more than two hours.

According to The Star, the arrest was related to an allegedly seditious speech the youth leader gave in Kelantan.

“They took about two-and-a-half hours to record my statement, and I cooperated.

“It was done professionally,” the English daily quoted Akmal telling reporters outside the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters at about 12.15pm.

Several members of the Sabah Umno Youth wing were reportedly present to show support to Akmal.

Akmal told reporters he would continue his scheduled programmes in the state, starting with a Ramadan programme in Beaufort.

In a statement, Umno secretary-general Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki, who is currently in Mecca, said he had contacted Akmal shortly before he was released.

He said Umno has requested assistance from the party’s legal adviser, lawyer Hafarizam Harun. - Mkini