Despite Khairul Nizam’s willingness to cooperate with the police in the past, said Suaram Executive Director Sevan Doraisamy, he was first arrested at IPD Dang Wangi although he willingly submitted himself for questioning on December 28. “The fact that the Magistrate’s Court rejected the application for remand by the police makes it clear that it was unnecessary for Khairul Nizam to be subjected to any form of detention at this juncture.”

Even so, noted Sevan, barely two weeks after his arrest at IPD Dang Wangi, police who identified themselves as officers from IPD Kota Baru arrested Khairul Nizam at his home. “He was not informed of the reason for his arrests during his arrest.”

“The police have been slow in providing lawyers with the necessary information regarding his arrests and present whereabouts.”

Further, said Sevan, Khairul Nizam was immediately taken to IPD Johor Bahru after his arrest. “This growing trend of local ‘extradition’ would undoubtedly bring hardship to those involved with his arrest.”

The manner of his arrest and the failure to convey the reason for his arrest clearly contravenes recognized international human rights principles and borders on illegality based on established procedures, warned Sevan. “The series of arrests and prosecution of critics of the Government of Malaysia should not be the norm in Malaysia. It must not be the task of the police.”