Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) secretary-general S Arutchelvan, arrested last night, was released this evening after a police remand order for him was rejected earlier today.

PSM activist Y Kohila, when contacted, said Magistrate Muzlina Muhammad Jamil declined to grant the remand order for further detention.

“The remand application was rejected by the magistrate because she said the police had until 7pm today to conduct their investigations and that time was sufficient,” she said.

Arutchelvan (also known as 'Arul') was held at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

He was arrested for sedition for a statement he allegedly made on opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's recent conviction.

He was released at 5.40pm and greeted by his lawyers and supporters outside the police station.

Arul said the police report lodged against him was made by the police and not by a member of the public. "Why did they arrest me when they could have just asked me to turn up at the police station," said Arul, when asked for his comments.

Some 10 police personnel raided Arutchelvan's house in Kajang ( above , right ) and seized his computer for investigations. Police said they were investigating Arutchelvan under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act.

Under this section, anyone who prints, publishes, sells, offers for sale, distributes or reproduces any seditious publication shall be guilty of an offence and is liable to a fine of up to RM5,000 or a jail term of up to three years or both.

'Intimidate Malaysian public'

In a statement on Feb 10, Arutchelvan had said that Anwar's sentence to five years in prison for sodomy was 'beyond reasonable doubt a political judgment'.

Meanwhile, PSM central committee member Dr Michael Jeyakumar ( left ) said the large number of police officers who raided Arutchelvan’s house would have been better utilised to combat crime.

In a statement issued early today, the Sungai Siput MP also said there was no need lock up Arutchelvan overnight or to ask for more days of remand.

“Police are clearly attempting to intimidate the Malaysian public by using the Sedition Act and they are attempting to clamp down on any criticism of the Barisan Nasional administration.

“We would like to remind the police and their BN masters that 2015 is quite different from 1948 and that attempts to intimidate the public will backfire,” Jeyakumar said.