JOHOR Pakatan Harapan leaders denounced the swift arrest of Mazlan Aliman early today, some three days after a lawyer of the prime minister’s wife, Rosmah Mansor, lodged a report against the Felda activist.

Johor PH chairman Muhyiddin Mohd Yassin said a police report was lodged by Noor Hajran Mohd Noor at the Sentul police station on Monday regarding a YouTube video which allegedly defamed Rosmah over a failed sturgeon project.

“Johor Pakatan Harapan suspects the arrest is politically motivated. Mazlan’s expose regarding the prime minister’s wife in the failed sturgeon project was one of the reasons he was arrested,” Muhyiddin said in a statement.

It co-signed by co-signed by Johor Bersatu chairman Dr Shahruddin Md Salleh, state Amanah leader Aminolhuda Hassan, state PKR leader Hassan Karim and state DAP leader Liew Chin Tong.

“Mazlan is a grassroots activist who fights for Felda settlers. In the current political climate, his arrest would only add to the hatred of the people towards Rosmah, Najib (Razak) and Barisan Nasional. 

“Johor Pakatan Harapan also condemns the arrest of Mazlan at an unreasonable hour, raising questions as to the severity of the crime.”

Muhyiddin said police should have asked Mazlan to turn up at the police station to have his statement taken. – March 22, 2018.