A Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) central committee member is the latest to be detained under the Sedition Act, this time for criticising an arrest that was made similarly under the controversial Act.

Apart from being detained under the Sedition Act, Khairul Nizam Abd Ghani was also detained under the Communications and Multimedia Act as soon as he arrived to give his statement at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters today.

PSM secretary-general A Sivarajan said Khairul was surrounded by several police officers during a forum held in Kuala Terengganu last Friday.

After negotiations with the investigating officer, Khairul was asked to give his statement at the Bukit Aman police headquarters today.

As he arrived at the Bukit Aman police headquarters around 9am, he was told that his case has been transferred to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.

“This morning, Khairul was informed that he will be detained. Police should instead investigate him within 24 hours and ask for him to be remanded for further investigations,” Sivarajan told reporters outside the Dang Wangi police headquarters today.

Not told of grounds for detention

However, Sivarajan said, they were not informed for what offence Khairul was being detained.

Stressing that Khairul should instead be remanded, he said the party, together with its lawyers, will wait 24 hours for Khairul to be released before taking further action.

Malaysiakini understands that Khairul was detained under the Sedition Act for criticising the arrest of fellow PSM activist Khalid Ismath.

Khalid was arrested at his office in Johor on Oct 7, under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, over an online posting on anti-1MDB Umno man Khairuddin Abu Hassan and Johor lawyer Kamal Hisham Jaafar.

After the remand expired on Oct 9, Khalid was re-arrested under the Sedition Act. He was finally released on Oct 29.