SHAH ALAM, 3 May: The arrest of blogger, Yusuf Al Siddique Suratman for questioning the chain email buzzing about immigrants wanting to cause chaos in Sabah is unreasonable.
PKR Vice-President, Sivarasa Rasiah said that Yusuf’s article is characterised as public interest.
Yusuf, who is better known by his blog, “Milo Suam” (Warm Milo) was arrested after uploading the article questioning the chain email which was allegedly an internal email by the Royal Malaysian Police.
The email claimed that 1,400 illegal immigrants in Kota Kinabalu and Tawau is going to trigger chaos.
The sender of the email claimed to be an “insider” and the information distributed by him is confidential police information.
Yusuf who was arrested at the compound of a supermarket in Setia Alam at 12.07am under Section 8(1) of the Official Secrets Act 1972 for the offence of spreading confidential documents.
“We are shocked at how such writing can be the basis for the arrest and detention of a blogger. This matter, news related to aspects of public interest, is clear,” said Sivarasa.
In the article, Yusuf asked the public to be vigilant regarding this chain email, because its authenticity is uncertain.
“This issue which is only being used is baseless and politically motivated to arrest a popular blogger who is pro-Pakatan,” said Sivarasa.
Media reports have also confirmed that there is another police report against Yusuf for distributing his article claiming that the police have conducted early voting while the military’s postal votes have been cast.
This report is being investigated under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for making statements which can cause public betrayal.
It is understood by TVSelangor that the police have obtained a court order to remand Yusuf for two days.