Police have detained Bersatu activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin outside the PAS headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

PN Youth chief Ahmad Fadhli Shari and Bersatu Youth chief Wan Ahmad Fayhsal Wan Ahmad Kamal confirmed the arrest.

The arrest comes two days before PN is scheduled to hold a rally to protest the granting of a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) to Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi regarding his Yayasan Akalbudi corruption case.

However, Fadhli claimed the arrest was not related to the Sept 16 gathering but did not furnish additional details.

“It is not related to the rally,” he told Malaysiakini.

Confirming the arrest, Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain said Badrul Hisham was apprehended for failure to cooperate with police investigations in six separate cases.

“We have summoned him repeatedly. We even issued a 111 notice under the Criminal Procedure Code.

“He received and signed the notice but stated his refusal to be present (for questioning),” Shuhaily told a press conference at Dang Wangi police station tonight.

“Therefore, we (police) have no other option except to issue a warrant of arrest,” he said.

Federal Criminal Investigation Department director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain

Shuhaily said the six separate cases were based on reports lodged against Badrul Hisham's TikTok postings that allegedly contained statements conducing to public mischief, incitement, and elements of sedition.

Among others, Shuhaily revealed that Badrul Hisham had questioned the government’s alleged “double standards” in addressing issues surrounding race, religion, and royalty.

“There were many slanderous elements in his statements,” he said.

Asked whether the police will obtain a remand order against Badrul Hisham, Shuhaily said authorities will “do their best” to finish their questioning within the first 24 hours since the arrest at 8pm tonight.

'Arrest not related to Sept 16 rally'

Meanwhile, Shuhaily said his press conference tonight was called partly to prevent speculations by social media users that Badrul Hisham’s arrest was linked to his involvement in the PN-led rally this Saturday.

“I have the responsibility to explain his arrest tonight.

“My intention is to share first-hand information regarding the arrest and prevent speculations,” he said.