KOTA KINABALU – Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has been released after being detained for at least two hours for the authorities to record his statement at the police headquarters here.
He said there was a report lodged over a speech he made during a ceramah in Kelantan, in which he denied making seditious statements.
“I wonder why they did not wait until I returned to Peninsular Malaysia, because it had already been set (that he will go to Dang Wangi district police headquarters in KL tomorrow).
“There was no police report from Sabah… no statements made in Sabah, it all happened in the peninsula. We are here for our Umno Youth programme in Beaufort, and we came calmly.
“I don’t think we disturbed anyone here (in Sabah),” he told reporters outside the police headquarters here.
He also refuted claims that his detention was made after being denied entry into Sabah.
“No… we entered the usual way, no issues clearing immigration. I am already here (at the police station). If not, I would have been detained at the airport.”
Akmal said as soon as he arrived at the airport here at 10.15am, he received a call that the police needed to record his statement today.
He said that after leaving the immigration counter at the Kota Kinabalu International Airport, he was taken straight to the police station to have his statement recorded.
“I was also wondering what was the rush… what is so urgent? It is not like I won’t be going back, and we have given the commitment (to make a statement at Dang Wangi IPD) but they (police) still insisted on doing it today.
“There was a report against me under the Sedition Act based on a video of my talk in Kelantan. I have looked into the video and I feel none of my words were seditious.
“I leave it to the police to investigate, and I will be ready to fight in court because I never fear, and I believe we bring the voice of truth. We did not do anything wrong.”
Akmal also thanked the police for treating him kindly throughout the period that he was detained.
The detention did not affect his initial plan to attend a breaking of fast programme with Umno Youth members in Beaufort.
Akmal was detained from about 10.30am to 1pm.
He added that he will provide full cooperation to the police and will still go to Dang Wangi tomorrow as planned.
“No surrender, no fear.”
Akmal has been vocal over the issue and has consistently pushed for a boycott, insisting it is to protect the sanctity of Islam and not for any political gain.
The controversy began after KK Mart and its manufacturer, Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, were caught selling several “Allah”-printed socks, resulting in outrage in the Muslim community and boycott calls from certain quarters.
The company subsequently apologised, while Datuk Seri Chai Kee Kan and a KK Mart director claimed trial for wounding religious sentiments. Three officers from Xin Jian Chang Sdn Bhd, the Batu Pahat-based vendor that supplied KK Mart with the socks, were also charged.
Three KK Mart outlets have since been attacked with petrol bombs, which Akmal has condemned.
Akmal had also previously told Scoop that it would be unfair to boycott all non-Muslim businesses. – April 5, 2024