Two more Bersatu members arrested over 'Turun Anwar' rally

Police have arrested two more Bersatu members, allegedly due to their involvement in Saturday’s “Turun Anwar” rally in Kuala Lumpur.

In a notice to the media today, Bersatu Youth information chief Harris Idaham Rashid said the arrests were executed this evening on Perak Bersatu Youth organising secretary Furqan Hakimi and one Syafiq Aziz.

Harris added that the duo will be brought to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters, while police are expected to apply for an extended remand order tomorrow morning.

Yesterday, police arrested Bersatu division chief Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, after a police report was lodged against him in relation to the gathering.

The activist’s lawyer, Rafique Rashid Ali, said an investigation paper was opened over alleged offences under Section 14 of the Minor Offences Act for insulting behaviour and Section 504 of the Penal Code on intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace.

The probe is also said to involve Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act covering the misuse of communication networks and Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, which punishes the utterance of seditious words.

Caning Anwar’s effigy

Later, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail said his team is investigating an incident during the “Turun Anwar” rally, where several individuals were seen caning an effigy resembling Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.

Khalid said two men, aged 21 and 47, were arrested in connection with the incident.

While Khalid did not mention the identity of the persons, Rafique confirmed that Badrul was arrested in connection with the incident.

Harris said today that Badrul and another individual were released at 5pm today after a magistrate court rejected the police’s application to extend their remand.

Amnesty International Malaysia has since said the arrests expose a “chilling reality” where even if protests are carried out peacefully, the state will continue to use outdated laws to discourage dissent and intimidate protesters.

The group’s freedom of expression campaigner Kiran Kaur added that Putrajaya cannot claim to support freedom of expression while arresting peaceful protesters under colonial-era laws like the Sedition Act.

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