Papagomo (left): Remanded for four days. Shaik Hussein (right): To be investigated under the Sedition Act.
KUALA LUMPUR: The string of arrests continued in the wake of the Low Yat Plaza incident, with blogger Papagomo and, in a surprise move, Bagan Umno chief Datuk Dr Shaik Hussein Mydin, detained for inciting racial tension.
The blogger, whose real name is Wan Mohd Azri Wan Deris, was arrested by officers at his home on Tuesday night, said Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar.
Also arrested previously were Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association president Mohd Ali Baharom aka Ali Tinju and two young men – one of whom has been charged in court with stealing a smartphone. The other is said to have claimed later that they had been cheated by a dealer.
Papagomo has been remanded for four days while Mohd Ali is being held until today (Thursday). Police will seek to extend his remand.
In BUKIT MERTAJAM, Shaik Hussein was arrested minutes before his press conference on the Low Yat brawl outside the police headquarters.
When the former Penang Umno Youth chief arrived at the police station at about 1.45pm accompanied by state Umno secretary Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir, he was detained by two policemen.
At about 4.05pm, Musa walked out of the police station and told pressmen that police had taken Shaik Hussein to Bukit Aman for investigation under the Sedition Act.
It is believed that Shaikh Hussein had posted messages criticising Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar in a Telegram messaging group.
Touching on this, Musa said: “We do have a closed-group in the Telegram mobile app to discuss issues pertaining to the party and the Government.”
“We have ministers and division chiefs in the group. We want the police to investigate who leaked the chat contents out of the group.”
GOMBAK: Wan Mohd Azri Wan Deris (pic), better known as blogger Papagomo, was arrested at his home on Tuesday night under the Sedition Act in connection with Sunday's Low Yat brawl.
"We arrested Papagomo in his house. In his room," Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said.
Papagomo had allegedly posted a picture of an injured Malay accident victim on his social media, claiming he was a victim of the Low Yat Plaza brawl.
Police gave him a day to turn himself in but the warnings fell on deaf ears.
Khalid said police are also seeking out a member of "a political party" from Penang for spreading racial remarks online. He said other netizens who did the same on social media will also be detained.
"Many more we will arrest. Especially those who abused the social media.
"We will not compromise, I don't care what's your race. You try to fan racial tensions we will take stern action.
"And I see there are also a few people giving their own 'analysis' on why this happened. Also please be careful. If we find seditious elements we will also arrest," Khalid said.
Khalid said police have obtained a four-day remand order for Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association chief Mohd Ali Baharom, or Ali Tunju, to be investigated under the Sedition Act
"We arrested Papagomo in his house. In his room," Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar said.
Papagomo had allegedly posted a picture of an injured Malay accident victim on his social media, claiming he was a victim of the Low Yat Plaza brawl.
Police gave him a day to turn himself in but the warnings fell on deaf ears.
Khalid said police are also seeking out a member of "a political party" from Penang for spreading racial remarks online. He said other netizens who did the same on social media will also be detained.
"Many more we will arrest. Especially those who abused the social media.
"We will not compromise, I don't care what's your race. You try to fan racial tensions we will take stern action.
"And I see there are also a few people giving their own 'analysis' on why this happened. Also please be careful. If we find seditious elements we will also arrest," Khalid said.
Khalid said police have obtained a four-day remand order for Malaysian Armed Forces Veterans Association chief Mohd Ali Baharom, or Ali Tunju, to be investigated under the Sedition Act
