KUALA LUMPUR – Kean Wong, the controversial book editor behind the 2020 publication, Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance, and Hope in New Malaysia, was arrested at the Kelana Jaya Immigration Department building today.
It has been learned that Wong was arrested by the authorities after attempting to renew his passport at the said location.
He had entered the country via KLIA last week, after being abroad for three years, prior to the arrest.
Wong’s lawyer, Goh Chia Yee, told Malaysiakini that her client has been arrested and is currently under custody at the Dang Wangi police station.
Semakin hari, semakin melucukan #MalaysiaMadani.
— Zikri Rahman (@zkrhmn) October 16, 2023
Kali ini, bukan isi bukunya (maaf, KDN atau polis jarang pandai membaca) tetapi kulit bukunya pula jadi isu.
Setiakawan bersama #KeanWong & barisan penulisnya.
Lanjut bacaan di:https://t.co/79SWXZRgTU pic.twitter.com/T5d4vmJtiK
Wong’s work, which was published by the Strategic Information and Research Development Centre, had come under scrutiny by the authorities after its cover featured an altered image of the national coat of arms (Jata Negara), deemed insulting, prompting over 200 police reports to be lodged on the matter.
The case was then investigated under Section 5 of the Emblems and Names (Preventing Unlawful Use) (Amendment) Act 2016, Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 8 (1) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984, as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
In July 2020, the Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department launched a probe against Wong and 28 co-authors as well as the publisher, following the police reports.
At the time, the case was investigated under Section 5 of the Emblems and Names (Preventing Unlawful Use) (Amendment) Act 2016, Section 4 (1) of the Sedition Act 1948, Section 8 (1) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984, as well as Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
However, Wong reportedly left the country in January 2020, stalling subsequent investigations. – October 16, 2023