Cops release columnist arrested for 'sedition'

Police have released columnist Zulfadzli Halim today after arresting him on Thursday for allegedly posting seditious content on Twitter.

Police secretary Noorsiah Mohd Saaduddin said Zulfadzli was released under police bail after his remand period ended.

“The Royal Malaysian Police through its Classified Crimes Investigation Unit will refer the investigation paper to the Attorney-General’s Chambers in accordance with Article 145(3) of the Federal Constitution once the investigation is completed,” she said.

Police earlier accused Zulfadzli, who writes for the Malaysian Insight, of posting videos that contain “racial elements which could cause tension between ethnicities”.

Malaysiakini’s checks found he had raised the alarm on Nov 21 over inflammatory content being shared on social media platform TikTok.

He showed evidence that TikTok users were threatening a repeat of the May 13, 1969, communal riots.

He said he had also reported the videos, but many were still not removed after two hours.

Malaysiakini earlier reported the proliferation of inflammatory clips on TikTok threatening interethnic violence, soon after the conclusion of the 15th general election on Nov 19.

TikTok is a social platform popular with young people, with 41 percent of its followers aged between 16 and 24.

TikTok told Malaysiakini that it is aggressively removing content which is "violative", although many social media users said TikTok told them the contents they reported did not violate the code of conduct.

Meanwhile, following his release this morning, Zulfadzli reportedly said he is innocent, and extremist views have no place in Malaysia.

“Police should cooperate with the public to ensure the extremist post is handled by the authority and not quick to punish those who try to help them,” he reportedly told the Malay Mail after leaving the Dang Wangi district police headquarters.

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