As we are aware, Pandan Member of Parliament YB Rafizi Ramli was arrested yesterday evening by the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) at the gates of the Parliament building. He was said to have been arrested under Section 8 of the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

On March 28, 2016, it was reported that Rafizi had purportedly revealed details from what he claimed was an excerpt of the auditor-general’s report on 1MDB proving that the government investment arm was partly to blame for delays in the Armed Forces Fund Board’s (LTAT) gratuity payments. What is the big crime here? Let us see.

On March 4, 2016, the auditor-general’s final report on 1MDB investigation had been tabled to the Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC). That auditor-general’s report on 1MDB was classified at that time as an official secret under the Official Secrets Act.

However, it was reported that it would only be classified under OSA until the PAC report on 1MDB is tabled in Parliament. Once that is done, the auditor-general’s report on 1MDB would no longer be an official secret.

On March 28, 2016, as stated above, it was reported that Rafizi had purportedly revealed details from what he claimed was an excerpt of the auditor-general’s report on 1MDB proving that the government investment arm was partly to blame for delays in LTAT’s gratuity payments.

On April 5, 2016, Rafizi was arrested for purportedly breaching the Official Secrets Act.

But here is the funny thing. It was reported on April 4, 2016 in the Edge that the PAC was rushing to complete the 1MDB report and hopes to table it in Parliament by Thursday, April 7, 2016.

We know now that once the PAC report on the 1MDB is tabled in Parliament, the auditor-general’s report on 1MDB would no longer be classified as an official secret under the Official Secrets Act.

So the question that arises is this - why did the PDRM rush to arrest Rafizi on April 5, 2016 for purportedly leaking excerpts of the auditor-general’s report when at the same time and on the other hand, the PAC is rushing to table its report in Parliament by tomorrow April 7, 2016 which will see the auditor-general’s report no longer being an official secret?

In my humble opinion, the PDRM should release Rafizi immediately in that the document that is said to be an official secret which Rafizi had purportedly leaked, come tomorrow that same document would no longer be an official secret. What is the point of this arrest, I wonder.

PUTHAN PERUMAL is an advocate and solicitor of the High Court of Malaya.