KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 9): Constitutional lawyer Syahredzan Johan has condemned the arrest of three individuals under the Sedition Act for allegedly uploading comments on social media with insulting elements against Yang DiPertuan Agong Sultan Muhammad V, and called for their immediate release.

The decision to detain them under the Sedition Act is contrary to the Federal government’s policy, Syahredzan, who is also DAP stalwart Lim Kit Siang’s political secretary, said in a statement issued jointly with Petaling Jaya city councillor Farhan Haziq Mohamed.

“The Sedition Act is a colonial vestige that is draconian and repressive, as well as being unreasonable and disproportionate to the fundamental freedoms enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” the duo said.

Earlier today, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said police have detained three individuals for allegedly insulting Sultan Muhammad V in their respective social media accounts.

The individuals, according to the police, are Eric Liew Chee Ling, 46, Azham Akhtar Abdullah, 27 and Nur Alia Astaman, 26.

Syahredzan and Farhan said that instead of using the Sedition Act, the police could use other provisions of the law to investigate the three individuals.

As for the arrest of the three individuals, Syahredzan and Farhan said: “We do not see the need to detain them for more than 24 hours.”

“We take the position that although what they have expressed maybe offensive and unacceptable to the society at large, they should not be detained under the Sedition Act,” the duo added.

Meanwhile, Syahredzan and Farhan have also condemned the statements uploaded by three individuals

“We call upon Malaysians to respect the system of constitutional monarchy (as) enshrined in the Federal Constitution,” they said.

Going forward, Syahredzan and Farhan  urged the Government to step up the efforts to abolish the Sedition Act, “as has been promised in the Pakatan Harapan’s manifesto.