UMNO Youth chief Akmal Saleh was called in for questioning this morning in Kota Kinabalu but he was not arrested, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said.
Contrary to Akmal's claims that he was arrested by police for alleged sedition over his role in fanning the controversy over the sale of socks which bore the word "Allah" at a KK Mart convenience store in Kuala Lumpur, Anwar said he was made to understand that Akmal was merely questioned by the cops.
“I do not think he was arrested, but was just called in (for questioning),” Anwar said today after a courtesy visit to the DAP-led state government in Komtar.
Anwar was greeted by Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow and state executive councillors, including the Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid, before he took a stroll around the office of the state administration.
Anwar urged the public to refrain from getting caught up in the controversy surrounding the socks.
There should not be any instigation, Anwar said, adding that that the government would not hesitate to act when it came to sensitive issues of race, religion and royalty (3Rs)
“We don’t care who they are, their positions or which parties they are from. Do not issue threats, especially in 3R-related matters.”
Akmal took to social media in Sabah today to claim he was detained at the Kota Kinabalu police headquarters despite being scheduled to give a statement at the Dang Wangi police station in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed receiving two reports on Akmal’s statements on the “Allah” socks issue, and that the case was being investigated under section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for misuse of network facilities.
Anwar later drove over to the mainland Penang where he is scheduled to attend a few events.
This is Anwar's second trip this year to his hometown of Penang. – The Vibes, April 5, 2024.
