68. ‘Kickdefella’ Released

Malaysian police today freed a prominent political blogger who was arrested for suspected sedition after he launched an online protest against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's embattled government.

The case underscores the government's struggle to tackle increasing public dissent amid a threat by the opposition to topple Abdullah's administration through parliamentary defections.

The blogger, Syed Azidi Syed Aziz, drew the government's ire last month when he posted a picture of Malaysia's national flag upside down on his popular blog and urged other Internet bloggers to follow suit to protest the country's political and economic problems.

Authorities arrested Syed Azidi on Wednesday, saying he was being investigated for sedition, which is punishable by up to three years in prison.

Syed Azidi said in a statement posted on his "Kickdefella" blog that he was released today. He said police treated him "well and most of the time, beyond the call of duty".

Police officials familiar with Syed Azidi's case could not immediately be contacted, and it was not clear whether he would face formal charges later.

Ahead of Syed Azidi's arrest, authorities detained another political blogger, an opposition lawmaker and a journalist last week under a separate law that allows detention without trial.

The politician and the journalist have since been freed following a public outcry, including by the de facto law minister, who resigned in protest.

Public pressure on the government mounted today as the Malaysian Bar, the main lawyers' group, held an emergency meeting to denounce the arrests under the Internal Security Act, which is used against suspects deemed to be threats to national security.

The lawyers issued a resolution calling for the Internal Security Act to be abolished and for the government "to immediately and unconditionally release all persons presently detained without trial". Activists estimate there are about 60 such detainees. — AP