Award-winning debater Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman says he was approached by police Special Branch officers over a statement critical of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak by the Challenger youth group.

Syed Saddiq, who is the Challenger spokesperson, said the two Special Branch officers met him this afternoon.

"It's not a questioning session. More of a 'counselling' session, according to them.

"But I would like to stress that they were very professional. It's just sad to know that I could be seen as a threat to my beloved country," he told Malaysiakini .

Besides the visit by Special Branch officers, Syed Saddiq said he has also been called up three times by Universiti Islam Antarabangsa (UIA) Malaysia student affairs department over the Challenger statement.

Challenger yesterday rejected Najib's leadership, and said the prime minister would bring ruin to the country.

The statement was chastised by three other youth groups today, including by the National Students Consultative Council (MPPK).

MPPK president Farhan Khairuddin said Challenger's statement was an assault on democracy, and called on youths to uphold the country's institutions.

In response to this, Syed Saddiq, in a Facebook posting, questioned why the MPPK did not speak out when democracy was allegedly subverted by the government, such as when Abdul Gani Patail was suddenly removed as attorney-general last July.

"Democracy does not belong to Najib, democracy is the people's" he said.