CID chief: 'Rebirth' editor freed after remand ends

Editor Kean Wong, who was arrested yesterday in relation to a sedition case three years ago, has been released upon the completion of his one-day remand period.

Bukit Aman CID director Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain confirmed the 58-year-old, who is residing in Sydney, is being probed under three different sections.

"The suspect was arrested at the Kelana Jaya Immigration Department yesterday when he was applying to renew his passport. He has been released today after his remand ended.

"The case is being investigated by Bukit Aman's Classified Crime Investigation Unit (USJT) D5 under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 8(1) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998," Shuhaily said in a statement today.

Shuhaily (above) urged the public to not speculate regarding the case, in order to not jeopardise investigations.

"We also urge the people to thread with caution and care on sensitive topics, especially those concerning the country's security and sovereignty."

Controversial book

Wong, who edited the controversial 2020 book 'Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance, And Hope in New Malaysia', was arrested yesterday and brought to the Dang Wangi police headquarters.

In 2020, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigations Department launched a probe against the book, which is a compilation of articles written by various writers on the change of government in 2018 and edited by Wong.

The book sparked controversy and over 200 police reports over its cover that featured a modified image of the national coat-of-arms, which was deemed insulting to the national symbol.

Earlier today, a group of some 15 to 20 people held a solidarity gathering for Wong at the Dang Wangi police station.

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