The Kuala Lumpur magistrate's court today ordered Keadilan Youth chief Mohamad Ezam Mohd Nor to be remanded for four days under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act.

The section allows for the police to investigate persons who are attempting, preparing or conspiring to commit sedition or those who print or distribute seditious materials.

Ezam was arrested on Monday after a Mingguan Malaysia report on Sunday that alleged the opposition leader of stating that he "admitted to planning to launch wide-scale demonstrations to topple the government chosen by the people".

However, he denied making such statements in Monday's edition of the Utusan Malaysia daily.

Ezam was arrested following two police reports lodged against him by Dang Wangi CID chief DSP Yusof Shafie and Umno Youth's secretary Zulkifli Alwi.

Ezam was brought to court at 9am this morning and the remand order issued by noon.

Nine released

Meanwhile, the nine Keadilan supporters arrested by the police last night for holding a candlelight vigil for Ezam were released this evening after spending the night in police lock-ups.

Among those arrested were Free Anwar Campaign chairperson Raja Petra Kamaruddin and his wife.

Sources told malaysiakini that Raja Petra's house was raided and that his personal computer was confiscated by police.

DAP chairman Lim Kit Siang in a press statement today categorised the arrests as being "high handed and politically motivated".

He also called on the Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) to declare its stand on Ezam's arrest.

"The government should respect the fundamental rights of Malaysians to the freedom of speech, assembly and association." he said.

Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has denied that Ezam's arrest was political in nature.

"Ezam was arrested not because of differences in political belief but rather of what he stated in the papers," press reports quoted Abdullah as saying today.

Lim, however questioned the integrity of the papers and categorised the arrest as one not based on substantiated truths.

"There is no justification for the police to arrest Ezam before finding out whether there is any truth in the Mingguan Malaysia report, for if the report is false then the person to be arrested is not Ezam but the Mingguan Malaysia editor," he said.

Legal action

Keadilan deputy chairman Dr Chandra Muzaffar, too, agreed that the newspaper should be investigated.

"Before the truth of the story could be ascertained, Ezam was arrested. Has Mingguan Malaysia carried out an investigation concerning the statement?" said Dr Chandra in a press statement.

Keadilan deputy youth chief Hamdan Taha said today Keadilan may take legal action against Mingguan Malaysia which is the Sunday edition of Utusan Malaysia.

"The confusion created by that paper is dangerous as it creates tension and disharmony among citizens in the country," he said.

"We would also like to know why the police reports lodged against Rafidah Aziz and Rahim Thamby Chik and the gatherings organised by Umno, GPMS and BBM concerning the Suqiu's appeals which were clearly are racial in nature have received no response from the police," he added.

The DAP Socialist Youth (Dapsy) also questioned the arrest of Ezam.

"Even if Ezam had truly admitted to making those statements, the police should obtain witnesses and then only charge Ezam in court. It is not necessary to detain Ezam," said Dapsy head Teng Chang Khim.

"We call on the police to immediately release him even though the remand order has been issued,' he said in a press statement.