The police today returned five more central processing units (CPUs) belonging to malaysiakini, with four servers still withheld following the Jan 20 raid when 15 CPUs and the servers were carted away for "forensic examination".

The CPUs were handed over by the police at the Dang Wangi police station at 4.15pm. Investigation officer ASP Alfazny Ahmad and malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan jointly signed o­n the computer casings, witnessed by ASP Ishak Yaacob.

This is the third batch of computers to be released. Six computers were returned last Wednesday and four more the following day.

Dang Wangi police have also recorded statements from Gan and four other senior editorial staff.

According to Gan, police will question malaysiakini chief executive officer Premesh Chandran tomorrow or the day after.

Public pressure

Alfazny said the remaining computers would be returned after the investigations have been carried out.

"We will inform malaysiakini as soon as the other computers are ready to be released," he said.

Investigations began after Umno Youth lodged a police report against malaysiakini Jan 17, alleging that the o­nline daily had published a 'seditious' letter that had questioned the special rights of Malays.

Gan attributed the speedy return of the seized computers to public pressure o­n the authorities after the raid.

Among local groups that have issued strong statements against the raid were the 10,000-strong Malaysian Bar, Aliran, Hakam, Suaram and international organisations including the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists, Bangkok-based Southeast Asian Press Alliance and London-based Amnesty International.