PSM has filed a complaint with the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) on the mistreatment of activist Khalid Ismath, who was held in police detention for 22 days.

PSM central committee member S Arutchelvan, accompanied by Khalid who was released on Oct 29, submitted a memorandum of complaint at the Suhakam headquarters this morning.

"PSM believes that the detention of Khalid Ismath was unjust, an abuse of power by the police and jail authorities and a violation of human rights," the memorandum states.

The party took issue with the police for re-arresting Khalid under the Sedition Act 1948 after failing to secure an extended remand against the activist after his arrest on Oct 7 for online comments about the Johor royalty.

Khalid was then arrested under the Communications and Multimedia Act and the police were granted a two-day remand to investigate, but were unsuccessful and sought an extension to the remand order.

After being forced to free Khalid when the remand expired on Oct 9, police moved in and re-arrested him under the Sedition Act.

"We believe the (second) arrest of Khalid under the Sedition Act was done in bad faith," the memorandum says.

Khalid was subsequently denied bail and spent 22 days in detention before his lawyers successfully challenged the refusal to grant bail.

He was finally granted an interim bail of RM70,000.

PSM also complained about Khalid being kept in solitary confinement and under poor conditions while in jail while he awaited the challenge against the refusal to grant him bail.