THE Klang magistrates’ court today granted a four-day remand order on Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) president Azwanddin Hamzah starting today. 

His lawyer, Mohd Imran Tamrin, said Azwanddin would be remanded until Sunday. 

“He was arrested yesterday and today, the remand order for four days starts until Sunday. 

“I was told that there were a few reports lodged against him,” he said in Klang today. 

He added eight police reports had been lodged against the leader of the Malay rights group, among them by an officer from the Klang district police headquarters.

He said the other reports were lodged by the public. 

The reports stemmed from a speech Azwanddin had made at a rally on Tuesday. 

In his speech, Azwanddin used a deragotory word to describe Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department P. Waytha Moorthy and also threatened to storm the Klang police station if police did not arrest the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple rioters. 

Azwanddin is being investigated under Section 506 of the Criminal Procedure Code for criminal intimidation, which carries a jail term of between two to seven years’ jail if found guilty.

Azwanddin will also be investigated under Section 504 of the CPC for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace.

“I was informed by the investigating officer that the investigation is under Section 506 for criminal intimidation (in regard to) his speech in which he had alluded to an attack on a police station. 

“Therefore, the police has to get his statement on what he meant and his intention concerning the word ‘attack’,” he said. 

Imran also said he had told the court that the word “attack” had a wide definition and did not necessarily mean a criminal threat. 

He added Azwanddin was not capable of attacking a police station. 

“Only his words should be looked into and given full attention by the investigating officer,” added Imran. 

Imran said he had also told investigating officers that Azwanddin would need medical attention as the latter suffers from thyroid problems. 

“We have told the investigating officer to take him to the hospital for confirmation of his health as well as to look into other medical needs, such as medication.” 

On DAP lawmaker Teresa Kok’s demand for an apology and RM30 million in damages from Azwanddin, Imran said neither him nor JMM had received any information on the matter. 

The primary industries minister had demanded a retraction, apology and RM30 million in damages from the Malay rights group leader in a letter of demand sent to Azwanddin by Kok’s lawyers over his remarks linking her to the Seafield Sri Maha Mariamman temple riots last month.

Azwanddin arrived handcuffed at the magistrates’ court in a police truck at 9am, along with two other individuals. 

Dressed in a blue shirt and black pants, Azwanddin appeared energetic and flashed a smile to the media when alighting from the truck. About 20 people came to show their support for him, chanting “Hidup Datuk Azwanddin”. 

Azwanddin, however, slipped and fell as he was being escorted into the court house, which triggered anger from some supporters, who questioned the police officers that were escorting him. 

The officers then shouted “tangan dia kena tarik” (his hands were pulled) because of the cuffs linking his hands to the two others. 

The hearing ended at 10.30am and Azwanddin was rushed to a police car and was not allowed to speak to the media. – December 27, 2018.