Malaysiakini journalist arrested for sedition

Malaysiakini journalist was arrested Thursday under the Sedition Act over her interview with Penang executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, reports news portal Malaysiakini. Susan Loone was released on police bail after being questioned for approximately eight hours at the state's Northeast District police district headquarters on Thursday. Loone first arrived at the police station for questioning at 3pm and left at 11.45 pm. Her mobile phone was also confiscated by the police when the investigation took place. Loone was reported as saying that police has taken her fingerprints and summoned her to sign a document putting her under arrest. "But, I am allowed to leave on police bail with a surety," Loone was quoted as saying in the article. Malaysiakini chief editor Fathi Aris Omar condemned the arrest citing the incident as 'downright harrassment' of media personnel on duty. "There is really no need for such lengthy interrogations or even to name Loone as a suspect," said Fathi, adding that the news portal views the arrest as another form of 'intimidation' in a long series attack on press freedom. "Loone was not only interrogated, her mobile phone was confiscated. This is truly excessive and uncalled for," he added. Loone is expected to report back to the police district headquarters on Oct 3. Loone and the online news portal are currently being investigated under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act 1948 for publishing an interview with Phee when he was in police custody on his role in the state's Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS). Phee, was earlier detained along with 154 PPS members after taking part in a Merdeka Parade at Esplanade in Penang on Sunday.