PETALING JAYA – Umno Youth chief Akmal Saleh was arrested in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, on April 5 amid police investigations against him for alleged sedition and transmission of offensive messages.
In a video posted on Facebook, Dr Akmal is seen being whisked away by police in a sport utility vehicle. “No fear, no surrender,” he is heard saying as he gets into the police car.
In a Facebook post, he said he was detained at the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters despite being scheduled to give his statement at the Dang Wangi police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on April 6. He was released about 2½ hours later, at about 12.10pm.
Speaking to the media at the Kota Kinabalu police station, Dr Akmal said he was in Sabah to attend a programme in Beaufort.
“However, as soon as I arrived, I received a call stating that I needed to give a statement today,” he said. “I asked if it could wait, but I was told that the statement needed to be taken as soon as possible. We are ready to fight in court because I am not afraid.”
Dr Akmal was then called back to the police station at about 12.15pm, as he was walking towards his car after speaking to reporters.
He left the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters at about 2.30pm subsequently, after recording a second statement. “They had a few more additional questions for me, I answered them,” he said. “I thank the police for treating me well.”
Two police reports were lodged in connection with a speech made by the Umno Youth chief on controversial socks found in KK Super Mart, said Malaysia’s Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain, adding that Dr Akmal is being investigated over sedition charges and for misusing networks to transmit offensive messages.
“The investigation paper will be referred to the Attorney-General’s Chambers once it is completed,” said Tan Sri Razarudin. “We advise the public not to raise issues related to the controversial socks as those involved have already been prosecuted.”
Dr Akmal had insisted on April 4 that he would continue the call to boycott the KK Super Mart convenience store chain over the socks controversy, despite a warning from Malaysia’s king against dragging the issue out any further.
KK Super Mart has been mired in controversy since March 13 after socks with the word “Allah” printed on them were discovered in the Bandar Sunway outlet in Subang Jaya, Selangor.
THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK
