Pertubuhan Pelindung Khazanah Alam Malaysia (Peka) president Shariffa Sabrina Syed Akil, who is a puan sri, was yesterday arrested by Johor police in Shah Alam, Selangor.

Also arrested was Peka administrative officer Norhayati Shahrom.

Peka, which confirmed the arrests in a statement today, said they were detained at around 8pm yesterday for their Facebook postings about logging.

Peka said they were detained at the Shah Alam district police headquarters and were later taken to Johor Baru in the night.

"Before being taken to Johor, both had made a police report at the Shah Alam police station regarding their detention and cooperation given by them to the police," it said.

The duo were this morning brought to court in Johor Baru and were remanded for three days for further investigation, said Peka.

Johor Baru Sessions Court assistant registrar Hidayah Abdul Manaf issued the remand order against the women.

"The case is being investigated under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA)

"Currently, the two of them are arrested in Johor police headquarters for investigation," it said.

Section 233 of the CMA concerns improper use of network facilities or network services and provides for a fine up to RM50,000 or imprisonment up to a year or both.

Siti Kasim acted as lawyer for the duo.

The arrests were first revealed by Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) Youth committee member Khalid Mohd Ismath yesterday.

Khalid said the reason for her arrest was unclear, but she had recently criticised a "VVIP" over environmental destruction in Johor.

"Sabrina, who is well known in championing the rights of the indigenous people and the environment, was merely making criticisms on Facebook about the serious deforestation in Johor, which allegedly involved a VVIP.

"Was the criticism wrong and a danger to the country?" he said in a statement later.

Khalid said the Johor police sent two vehicles to pick her up.

He said Sabrina's arrest was a waste of police resources, which should be directed at Johor's crime problem.

He added the arrest will only raise awareness about the environmental issues in Johor.

'Acting on police report'

Meanwhile, Bernama reported that the two women, aged 54 and 51, were believed to have made offensive statements against the Johor Sultan on Facebook.

Johor police chief Wan Ahmad Najmuddin Mohd said the Commercial Criminal Investigation Department of the Johor contingent police headquarters detained the two women following a police report.

"The Johor police received a report at 1.17pm on Dec 20 concerning an offensive statement against DYMM sultan Johor.

"The statement made could jeopardise harmony and the wellbeing of the country," he said in a statement today.

Wan Ahmad Najmuddin said following the detention, police seized two mobile phones and two sim cards which were believed to have been used by the two women to make the offensive statements via Facebook.

Meanwhile, Wan Ahmad Najmuddin said the police also detained another man yesterday evening on suspicion of making abusive statement against the Tunku Puteri of Johor, Tunku Tun Aminah Sultan Ibrahim via Facebook.

He said the 38-year-old man was detained about 6.45pm in Jalan Puyuh, Larkin Jaya, here after receiving a police report.

"The Johor police received a report on the abuse of the social media at 2.11am, yesterday. The report concerned an abusive statement against YAM Tunku Aminah that could threaten national harmony and wellbeing," he said in a statement.

Wan Ahmad Najmuddin said following the arrest, police seized a sim card and a mobile phone believed to have been used by the suspect in making the abusive statement.

He said the case was also being investigated under Section 233 (1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.