SABAH police confirmed the arrest of three student activists under the Sedition Act in connection with the Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 protest, which ended with the public burning of a caricature of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The students — identified as Suara Mahasiswa UMS president Fadhil Kasim, Alif Danial, and Sabir Syarifuddin — were detained on Monday at the Kota Kinabalu district police headquarters.
District police chief Kasim Muda confirmed the arrest, stating the trio were being held to assist investigations related to the weekend protest.
“All have been arrested to assist in investigations related to the assembly,” Kasim said in a brief statement.
Earlier, police maintained that the students were only being questioned. The arrests were made at 4pm.
Kasim said the investigation centres on alleged offences under the Sedition Act, with the burning of the Prime Minister’s caricature seen as the catalyst.
The placard, torched in front of the crowd at Lintasan Deasoka, included the phrase “MADANI: Protector of Sabah’s Corrupt” — a slogan that police believe may violate laws governing public order and incitement.
The protest, organised by the student group Suara Mahasiswa, was aimed at highlighting corruption in Sabah and pressing for state reforms.
It has since drawn the attention of law enforcement, with three investigation papers opened and nine offences under review, including the possession of flammable materials. - June 24, 2025
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