Blogger Syed Azidi Syed Abdul Aziz has been remanded for another day for the police to continue their investigations against him for allegedly posting seditious materials in his blog.

The fresh one-day remand order was granted by the Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court today. It expires at 5pm tomorrow.

Yesterday he was remanded for a day by the Kota Bharu magistrate's court. He was then brought to Kuala Lumpur for questioning.

Syed Azidi is an accomplished film-maker-turned-blogger and also works for the Kelantan government.

He runs the popular kickdefella blog which often lampoons Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in mock movie posters.

kickdefella syed azidi syed abdul aziz However, his online campaign to fly the Jalur Gemilang (Malaysian flag) upside down last month caused a furore and stern warnings from Abdullah.

Syed Azidi was arrested on Wednesday under the Sedition Act at his home in Kota Bharu. He is likely to be probed by the Multimedia Unit of the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID).

He later spent the night at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur and was brought to the Jalan Duta court complex at about 2.45pm today.

His counsel Amrit Pal Singh told reporters later that the police had asked for three days remand from magistrate Fadzlin Suraya Mohd Shah in chambers, but only obtained remand for an additional day.

Amrit later read a press statement by Syed Azidi where the latter urged supporters not to participate in any form of gathering, which may be deemed as illegal by the authorities.

“I’m well and in good spirits. I wish everybody the best. I hope to start blogging again tomorrow,” Syed said in his statement.

Well treated by police

Amrit Pal explained that unless the police charge Syed Azidi or investigate him in another police district, the latter should walk free tomorrow.

Syed Azidi’s wife Bariah Ishak told reporters earlier that her husband was treated well by the police but was worried about his back problems.

Syed Azidi’s four sisters and brother were also at the court complex to show support. They were allowed to meet their detained brother briefly by court authorities.

Kubang Kerian MP and PAS Youth chief Salahuddin Ayub was also at the court complex in support of Syed Azidi.

In a related development, media watchdog Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) protested the arrest of Syed Azidi, calling it "another act of intimidation by the police and the state against those who are vocal critics of the federal government".

CIJ said in a statement that the government should immediately release Syed Azidi.

"CIJ believes that no one should be criminalised for voicing their opinion critically in a democratic society," said its executive director V Gayathry.