Journalist under sedition probe released from custody - lawyer

Former Free Malaysia Today journalist Rex Tan was freed from police custody this afternoon.

When contacted, Tan’s lawyer Rajsurian Pillai confirmed Tan’s (above, right) release following his past midnight arrest and overnight detention at Dang Wangi district station lock-up.

“Police had requested a four-day remand, but I asked that the remand not be granted.

“The magistrate gave a one-day remand ending today,” Rajsurian told Malaysiakini.

Tan’s arrest was linked to a sedition probe based on a question he posed during a public lecture in Kuala Lumpur featuring UK politician George Galloway, titled “Gaza Exposes the Complicity of International Actors”, which was said to carry racial overtones.

Tan, 31, was arrested under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act and Section 505 (c) of the Penal Code, which is related to making statements with the intent to cause alarm or fear.

He is also being investigated under the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA).

Rajsurian said he had also raised questions about the CMA probe, as Tan did not post his allegedly seditious remarks online; instead, other individuals had done so based on video recordings from the forum.

‘With freedom comes responsibility’

Separately, Bernama quoted Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as saying that while he respects freedom of speech, it also comes with responsibility.

"The journalist was covering an event involving a United Kingdom politician… then he made a comparison of the situation in Palestine, where Israel oppresses the people of Palestine… he compared it with the treatment received by the Chinese community in Malaysia.

“The politician's answer was also very clear, saying the comparison does not hold water as he knows Malaysia,” he said at an event in Kulim Hi-Tech Park, Kedah.

Saifuddin also noted the media company, which the former journalist belonged to, had also apologised and stated that it does not reflect the agency’s position.

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