KUALA LUMPUR: Bukit Aman confirmed the arrest of the editor of the controversial book 'Rebirth: Reformasi, Resistance, and Hope in New Malaysia', Kean Wong today.
The cover photo of the book allegedly insults the country's coat-of-arms, or 'Jata Negara'.
The man was nabbed at the Kelana Jaya Immigration Office while applying for passport renewal.
Criminal Investigation Department (CID) deputy chief, Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa confirmed the arrest of Kean Wong.
"Yes, he was arrested. The investigation is being carried out by the Bukit Aman Classified Crime Investigation Unit," he told Berita Harian.
Kean Wong was reportedly taken to the Dang Wangi district police headquarters for further action and investigation under the Sedition Act of 1948.
Bukit Aman is expected to release an official statement regarding the arrest of Kean Wong soon.
On July 10, 2020, the then Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Abdul Hamid Bador said that the police were tracking Kean Wong to assist in the investigation into the book cover controversy.
He said the investigation regarding the publication of the book began on June 29, 2020 following several police reports received from various parties across the country.
Police also recorded the statements of several individuals including the illustrator, book publisher and printer.
During the investigation, Kean Wong was reported to be in Australia and the police informed that he had held Australian Permanent Resident (PR) status for more than 10 years.
He said the case is being investigated under the Sedition Act 1948, Emblems and Names (Preventing Unlawful Use) (Amendment) Act 2016, Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.