Detained lawyer Matthias Chang has described Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his allies as 'cowards'.
He also revealed that he is commencing a hunger strike to protest his arrest.
"My arrest and detention are a reflection of the cowardice of the prime minister and his cronies, the 'loyal but not smart' members of the Umno supreme council.
"I hereby declare that as at the time of my arrest and detention, I have started my hunger strike to show to all Malaysians that our so-called Umno leaders led by Najib are cowards and untrustworthy," he said in a statement.
Chang, who is a former political aide to Dr Mahathir Mohamad, was detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act (Sosma) this afternoon.
Like his client, Umno man Khairuddin Abu Hassan, who filed a slew of reports abroad against 1MDB, Chang was also arrested under Section 124K and 124L of the Penal Code for allegedly sabotaging and attempting to sabotage the state.
In his statement, the lawyer also recounted his challenge issued to Najib and Umno leaders on Sept 25, asking them to display their preparedness to die for the cause of Malay dignity following the red-shirts rally nine days earlier.
Apart from the prime minister, Chang had dared Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, Umno leaders Mohd Ali Rustam, Ahmad Maslan, Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Annuar Musa, Abdul Rahman Dahlan and Azalina Othman to go on a hunger strike.
"I call upon all of you to go on a hunger strike with me to demonstrate that we are willing to die for our respective causes," he had said.
Crass intimidation tactic
Commenting further on his arrest, Chang said he was detained in a "deceitful and dishonest" manner but vowed that it would not break him.
"My arrest and detention reveal glaringly for all to see how deceitful and dishonest the manner in which I was arrested and detained. This is a typical 'mind game' perpetrated by those who desire to subjugate a suspect to their will.
"In most cases, this sudden turn of events would overwhelm the suspect, his family and even his solicitors and he would definitely be traumatised.
"Having been imprisoned before in Malaysia and in Israel, I was more than prepared for such an eventuality, specifically the juvenile psychological mind games," he added.
Chang said this was a "heinous tactic" to drive fear into the hearts of all Malaysians to stem the "rising tide of legitimate and constitutional rebellion against the tyranny and corruption of the Najib regime and his handlers".
"This is crass intimidation against Malaysians who are fighting for justice and truth. This is also a reflection of Najib regime's desperation and fear," he added.
In 2010, Chang had also embarked on a hunger strike during his month-long incarceration in Kajang prison after being found guilty of contempt of court.
He ended the strike nine days later after being persuaded to do so by Mahathir.
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