Inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar today said cops will act against Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos for threatening to torch billboards calling for jailed former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim's freedom.

However, Khalid said he wants the billboards, which he described as "seditious", to also be removed.

"The Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) is in the midst of taking action against Jamal Yunos for threatening to burn posters.

"At the same time, local municipal councils are asked to take down the seditious billboards.

'PDRM, please track down billboards that contain seditious words and confuse the rakyat by referring to Anwar as a 'political prisoner'," he said on Twitter .

Khalid's statement came after Jamal today failed to torch one such billboard in Sabak Bernam, said to be due to heavy police presence .

On Wednesday, Jamal also threatened to torch a similar billboard in Ampang but later backtracked, putting up a two-metre banner with graphic details about sodomy on the billboard instead.

PKR had defended the billboards which have gone up throughout Selangor, stating they received approval from the respective municipal councils.

Anwar was, in February last year, jailed five years for sodomy, a charge he claimed was politically motivated.

The United Nations’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention recognises Anwar’s incarceration as ‘arbitrary’.

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