PARTI Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) activist Khalid Ismath has been released on police bail after spending a night in police custody for allegedly insulting the monarchy.

PSM Youth chief Nik Aziz Afiq Abdul said that Khalid was released about 12.15pm on bail after the latter had his statement recorded under Section 112 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

“He was arrested under the Sedition Act last night but was released on police bail a moment ago,” said Aziz. 

Aziz said that the police backed down from their plan to arrest Khalid, and only recorded his statement.

“We are ever ready to cooperate with the authorities without having any of our activists arrested. It is just a waste of time and resources for the cops,” he said.

Aziz also expressed PSM’s gratitude to the Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah for her response to the issue.

It was reported last night that the Queen had reactivated her Twitter account to play down Khalid’s arrest.

“I am truly upset that the police have detained those people. Through the years, my husband and I have never made any police report on bad things said about us.

“It’s a free country,” said Tunku Azizah said in a Twitter post.

However, checks showed the queen’s Twitter account had again been deactivated today.

Meanwhile, PSM urged the Pakatan Harapan government to abolish the Sedition Act, as promised in its election manifesto.

“We regret that the law is still being used in New Malaysia. We demand the government get rid of the draconian law as soon as possible.

“The Sedition Act is an abuse of human rights and goes against freedom of speech. Those still detained under the law must be released immediately,” Aziz said.

Khalid, a former PSM youth chief, was detained last night at his home in Klang for allegedly posting a seditious tweet aimed at Tunku Azizah.

Khalid’s arrest occurred hours after the queen posted on Instagram, telling the public that she had left Twitter for personal reasons.

Khalid, however, had denied making seditious tweets against the queen, saying that certain quarters were using him as a scapegoat. – September 14, 2019.