A PAS ustaz, Abu Bakar Baikalani Abu Hassan, is the latest to be detained under the 1948 Sedition Act.

According to George Town OCPD Mior Faridalatrash Wahid, the religious teacher was arrested following a police report on his sermon at Masjid Acheh Lama, Jalan Terengganu mosque last Friday.

The 44 year old was queried at the Northeast District police headquarters on Jalan Patani since 10.30am.

It was learnt that another PAS member had lodged the report against Ahmad for his comments over the voluntary patrol unit (PPS).

Ahmad had allegedly questioned the police arrest of 156 members, including its chief and state cabinet member Phee Boon Poh ( right ), on Aug 31.

"We will release him today after we have taken a statement from him," Mior told Malaysiakini .

"We are probing him under Section 4 (1) (b) of the Sedition Act for uttering seditious words," he added.

Detained for nine hours

When met outside the police headquarters at 7.55pm , Abu Bakar said he was released on RM2,000 police bail.

He was detained for almost nine hours and grilled in two sessions but appeared calm.

He was told to report back at the police headquarters on Oct 10 .

When asked the reason for his arrest, Abu Bakar said it was related to the mass arrest of PPS which he mentioned during his sermon.

"I just used PPS as an example for they had done some good in my area," he told reporters.

The police have launched a dragnet under the sedition act, where 17 have been charged, including opposition politicians, students, academician Azmi Sharom, and independent preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin.

On Sept 4, Malaysiakini journalist Susan Loone was also arrested under the same act and told to report to the police on Oct 3 .

A charge under the Sedition Act carries a fine of RM5,000 and or jail term not more than three years.

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