TikToker “Jorjet Myla”, who was detained by police last weekend after criticising Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, was traumatised and not ready to be interviewed.
This was shared by her husband when met by Malaysiakini in Kuantan, Pahang, last night.
He also said his wife lost her appetite after being held in a lock-up for three days.
“She did not share much with me about what happened during her time in remand.
“She only mentioned that she couldn’t eat (lost her appetite). We also got the gist of what food in lock-ups is like,” the husband, who requested anonymity, said.
Police had been tight-lipped on the arrest, with Malaysiakini’s queries since Tuesday going unanswered.
The 38-year-old woman was arrested on Monday morning and was reportedly investigated under the Sedition Act 1948.
This came after she accused Anwar of frequently blaming others for shortcomings and what she described as unsatisfactory performance in a TikTok video.
She also said the prime minister still behaves like an opposition leader, and suggested that the PKR president might be more comfortable being in the opposition.
Jorjet’s husband said she will soon respond to all questions on her detention through a live session on social media.
He said that for now, she is not ready to meet anyone, but promised to address all queries when the time is right.
“I think that’s best for now, let her rest until everything settles down,” he added.
He told Malaysiakini that he is also unsure which laws will be used to charge his spouse, but confirmed that her mobile phone was among the items seized by police.
‘Trying to bury this story’
Jorjet’s arrest sparked widespread backlash, with various quarters criticising the government for its refusal to disclose any details surrounding her detention.
Pasir Gudang MP Hassan Karim criticised the police for remaining silent after the arrest, and noted that over 24 hours had passed since media queries were raised on the matter.
Human rights lawyer Zaid Malek said the government’s refusal to disclose any information was highly concerning and was a blatant attempt to censor what the media can report.
“By all accounts, it seems that the government is trying to bury this story, and by extension halt the public discourse on this issue,” Zaid said in a statement to Malaysiakini.
DAP Women’s legal bureau chief, Sangeet Kaur Deo, also expressed her disappointment, reminding the government that repealing the Sedition Act was part of its reform agenda.
Sangeet added that checks conducted on the Attorney-General’s Chambers portal yesterday also confirmed that the 2015 amendments to the Sedition Act, although gazetted, have yet to be brought into force, nearly 11 years on.
“Those amendments, among othsers, removed the words ‘or against any government’ from Section 3(1)(a), which defines as seditious a tendency ‘to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against any ruler or against any government’, and repealed Section 3(1)(c) in its entirety, which defines as seditious a tendency ‘to bring into hatred or contempt or to excite disaffection against the administration of justice in Malaysia or in any state’,” she explained.
In January, Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail said the Sedition Act was only used in cases involving insults against the royal institution and matters that threaten national sovereignty.
However, human rights group Suaram, in a report, said half of the sedition investigations in 2025 involved criticism of political leaders.
Push to scrap ‘outdated’ laws
In a statement today, NGO coalition “CSO Platform for Reform” condemned the government’s persistent use of what it termed outdated laws as a grave threat to democratic progress, institutional reform, and civic space.
It said suppressing legitimate criticism undermines advocacy for transparency, accountability, and human rights, thereby weakening participatory democracy.
“In light of these concerns, CSO Platform for Reform calls on the home minister, inspector-general of police, and parliamentary committees to urgently table reforms to immediately repeal the Sedition Act, Penal Code sections 124B, 504, 505(b), and Communications and Multimedia Act section 233… preventing misuse against citizens.”
The group also called on the police to stop summoning and investigating government critics and activists who are expressing themselves peacefully.
It also said the police should receive training on protecting constitutional rights and being accountable. - Mkini
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