Asked about the use of the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma) against Bersih chief Maria Chin Abdullah, Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi passed the buck to the attorney-general and the inspector-general of police.

“On that, we ask that the attorney-general and the inspector-general of police answer. I don’t want to touch on their operational matters,” he told reporters during a press conference in Kuala Lumpur today.

Maria was arrested on Friday during a raid on Bersih’s office. The pro-electoral reform group was being investigated under Section 124C of the Penal Code over allegations that it had received funding from the Open Society Foundations, linked to American billionaire George Soros.

The provision criminalises attempts to ‘commit activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy’, and carries a penalty of up to 15 years’ imprisonment.