A PKR worker was arrested for putting up a banner urging freedom for PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim in Penang.

Koay Chee Hock, 49, was detained by police at around 3pm when he tried to put up the banner along Jalan Permatang Rawa in Bukit Mertajam.

This was confirmed by Penang PKR secretary Zulkiefly Saad in a statement tonight.

Penang PKR also uploaded a police search list which showed the items confiscated from Koay.

At the top of the list read "a billboard banner measuring 8x12 feet which is suspected of carrying words with seditious elements".

Other items confiscated included a motorcycle, drill, ladder and camera.

Zulkiefly criticised the arrest, adding that authorities refused to negotiate when they arrested Koay.

"Penang PKR finds it astonishing and strange - since when have the words 'Free Anwar' become seditious?" he said.

He added that Koay was being investigated by police under the Sedition Act 1948.

Zulkiefly asked if the words 'Free Anwar' somehow intimidated the ruling coalition.

"We regret the authorities have become tools of Umno and BN simply to curb Anwar's influence among the people," he said.

The banner was meant to promote a rally for Anwar in Seberang Jaya on Jan 9 next year.

The rally coincides with a court case from Jan 9 to 12 in Penang which Anwar must attend, thus he will be temporarily moved from Sungai Buloh prison in Selangor.

The Federal Court in February last year upheld Anwar's five-year jail sentence for sodomy, a charge he claimed was politically motivated.

'Umno lodged complaint over banners'

Meanwhile, Seberang Perai Tengah police chief Nik Ros Azhan Nik Abdul Hamid said two more men were also detained, according to Bernama.

"Police initiated an investigation under the Sedition Act after receiving police reports from members of the public about the installation of the banners which were allegedly seditious," he was quoted as saying.

Nik Ros Azhan said the three men were released on police bail after recording their statements.

He added similar banners installed at Alma, Bukit Teh and Permatang Tinggi in the last two days have also been removed by police.

He advised the rally organisers to stop installing such banners.

Earlier today, Bukit Mertajam Umno complained about the banners and the division's secretary Mohd Fauzi Sharif said a police report was made for stern action to be taken.