Activist Khalid Mohd Ismath has been re-arrested over a Twitter posting, now under the Sedition Act, despite his earlier remand expiring last night.

Human rights NGO Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy, who spoke to Khalid’s wife told Malaysiakini that Khalid will now be remanded for an additional four days.

“This morning when he was brought to court, the police were granted a four-day remand,” Sevan told Malaysiakini .

Khalid was to be released last night after the court denied the police application for an extension to his initial two-day remand.

The activist was first detained at Johor Bahru Selatan police station on Wednesday under the Communications and Multimedia Act over comments he had allegedly made on Twitter on the detention of former Batu Kawan Umno deputy chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan and the latter's lawyer Matthias Chang.

Former secretary general S Arutchelvan ( left ), who also spoke to Khalid's wife, said when Khalid was due for release, she had seen signs that the police did not intend to let him leave.

"He was supposed to be released (last night). And (for him) to be released, he must get back his normal clothes.

"But then he was still with the orange shirt. That showed that the police wanted to arrested him," said Arutchelvan.

He added the subsequent report against Khalid was lodged by the police themselves.

PSM lodges report against cops

Meanwhile, PSM secretary-general A Sivarajan said they are lodging a report against the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) with the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam).

“We are making this report because we are concerned about our member (Khalid),” he said in a statement earlier today prior to the granting of the additional remand.

Slamming the police for applying for the remand to be extended, Sivarajan said this was proof that the police had ill-intentions to continue to punish Khalid.

Sivarajan said Suhakam must therefore urge the police to abide by the magistrate’s earlier decision and release Khalid immediately.

“Suhakam must voice against the abuse of the Communications and Multimedia Act, which in this case has clearly been abused to stifle the freedom of speech.

"Suhakam must also study the abuse of powers by MCMC and the police and to forward this matter to the government, so that human rights and the right to speak are not taken away arbitrarily,” he said.