Political cartoonist Zunar, who is being investigated by the police for sedition, was released on police bail this morning.

This was confirmed by one of his lawyers, Melissa Sasidaran, in a text message to Malaysiakini at 10.40am.

"He has been released from the Dang Wangi police station on police bail just now," Melissa said.

Zunar, whose full name is name Zulkiflee SM Anwar Ulhaque, was arrested by police on Wednesday for a tweet against the Federal Court judges who convicted Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim on the Sodomy II charge.

He had accused them of being "lackeys in robes". Zunar was remanded yesterday and had been scheduled to be released tomorrow.

While he was held in remand, Zunar also managed to draw a cartoon , which somehow found its way out of his Dang Wangi police lock-up cell.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar has also listed five other people to be investigated for sedition.

They are Pandan MP and PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli, Taiping MP Nga Kor Ming, Penang state executive councillor and PKR Youth deputy chief Dr Afif Bahardin, PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan and PK-linked Jingga 13 chief Fariz Musa.

The police force action in scrutinising Twitter postings by members of the opposition parties on Anwar's Sodomy II guilty verdict are seen as yet another instance of stifling dissent in Malaysia.

These actions of the authorities have made headlines overseas , including in the major international publications such as the New York Times and The Wall Street Journal .