(Oct 8):  Matthias Chang, the lawyer for detained former Umno branch leader Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan, was arrested today under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012 (Sosma).

In a text message to The Malaysian Insider, Chang said he was arrested at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters this afternoon when he went there to visit Khairuddin, who is also being held under the act.

Chang, a former political aide to Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said he was detained under Section 124K and 124L of the Penal Code that deal with sabotage and attempting to sabotage the state respectively.

"My arrest and detention is similar to what sacked Umno leader Datuk Khairuddin Abu Hassan went through," he said.

Under Sosma, a suspect can be held for up to 29 days.

Lawyer Stanley Augustine, meanwhile, said a team of lawyers was already at the police headquarters to attend to Chang’s case.

Chang's arrest comes just days before he is scheduled to appear in court to represent Khairuddin on his habeas corpus application against the government challenging his arrest under Sosma.

In his application Khairuddin named Dang Wangi deputy police chief Habibi Majinji, Dang Wangi district police chief, the inspector-general of police and the government as respondents.

He wants the court to free him immediately from detention and also provide other relief deemed just and appropriate.

He is also seeking a court order that his detention via a notice under Section 4(5) of Sosma, is null and void.

Khairuddin's application will be heard at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on Oct 13.

His detention will expire on Oct 21.

Khairuddin was rearrested under Sosma on Sept 23 at the Jalan Duta Court Complex after his remand order under Section 124C of the Penal Code expired.

Prior to that, Khairuddin had been remanded since Sept 19 under Section 124C of the Penal Code for trying to carry out activities deemed detrimental to parliamentary democracy. – The Malaysian Insider