Activist Adam Adli released, unfazed by police arrest

Student activist Adam Adli speaking at the 'Free Anwar' rally held near the Sogo department store in downtown Kuala Lumpur yesterday. He was arrested by police shortly after, and released this morning. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, February 22, 2015.Student activist Adam Adli Abdul Halim seems unfazed following his release from police custody, saying that it is "normal" for him to get picked up by authorities for voicing out his opinions.

He said this outside the Jinjang police lock up in Kuala Lumpur, barely minutes after police released him and PKR's Jingga 13 head Fariz Musa on police bail today.

They were both arrested near the Sogo shopping complex in the city for taking part in the "Free Anwar" gathering yesterday evening.

"Life goes on. It is normal I guess (the arrest) whenever we highlight certain issues," he said.

Adam also warned of a possible arrest of others who had participated in yesterday's rally.

"It is not just me and Fariz, more will be picked up soon," he said.

Following his detention, Adam said he questioned the arresting officer the reason for their arrest but was told that they were only carrying out their duties.

"They also declined to answer when I asked who ordered the arrest," said Adam.

He said police took his statement under Section 143 of the Penal Code for gathering of five or more persons with criminal intent.

"That was what I am being investigated for. I can't comment further as the matter is still under investigation," he said.

This was the seventh time in three years that Adam was detained by police.

The activist, a vocal critic on government policies, said he had slowed down on activities since last year to focus on his studies.

He is currently pursuing a Law Degree at the Brickfields Asia College after he was expelled from Universiti Perguruan Sultan Idris.

Adam was nabbed, along with Fariz at 5.30pm after giving a speech on opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is currently serving time in Sungai Buloh prison.

Participants, most of whom wore black, chanted slogans such as "reformasi" (reformation), "bebas Anwar" (free Anwar) and "hidup rakyat" (long live the people).

The Federal Court on February 10 upheld a Court of Appeal verdict from March 7 last year that found Anwar guilty of having sodomised his former aide, Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan in 2008. He was jailed for five years, and is serving his sentence at the Sungai Buloh prison.

- TMI