Penang C4 activist held over post critical of MCO arrests
Activist K Sudhagaran Stanley was arrested over an old social media posting critical of police arrests when enforcing the movement control order (MCO).
Bukit Aman CID deputy director Mior Faridalathrash Wahid confirmed Sudhagaran (above) was being investigated for his April 2 Facebook post with the heading "Are we turning into a police state during the MCO period”.
Activist K Sudhagaran Stanley was arrested over an old social media posting critical of police arrests when enforcing the movement control order (MCO).
Bukit Aman CID deputy director Mior Faridalathrash Wahid confirmed Sudhagaran (above) was being investigated for his April 2 Facebook post with the heading "Are we turning into a police state during the MCO period”.
This contradicted other media reports which speculated the Penang Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) northern region coordinator was nabbed due to a Facebook post on the defacing of murals in Shah Alam, including one that depicted the Agong.
“Yes (he was arrested over the post), he was remanded for a day and released on bail.
“The case was already being investigated but due to Covid-19, only now we are proceeding,” Mior said when contacted by Malaysiakini.
Sudhagaran, 35, is reportedly being investigated for sedition, making statements leading to public mischief and the misuse of Internet services.
In the posting, he questioned the arrests of 24 seminarians in Penang for violating the MCO by playing football within their college compound.
The men were later charged under Regulation 3(2) Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases (measures within infected local areas) Regulations 2020 and were ordered to carry out social service work.
Sudhagaran also questioned the alleged high number of arrests made during the early MCO period and the purported lack of oversight into the rights of detainees.
This was as the new Perikatan Nasional government imposed the strict MCO on March 18 which involved travel restrictions and the lockdown of all but essential services and business, in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
It later began easing restrictions in May in a bid to revitalise the economy and in light of reduced number of cases in the country.
When contacted, Sudhagaran confirmed the matter and said he was released on bail after the court only granted the police a one-day remand.
NGOs have criticised the arrest, notably the manner in which it was carried out late at night, including C4 which labelled the arrest “chilling”.
The organisation cited concerns it was “aimed at instilling fear and silencing voices that are critical of the administration of this country.”
Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) called on Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador to review internal police policies that “allow such absurd practices”.
Additional reporting by Alyaa Alhadjri
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