Ministry dismisses report of Interpol having detained activist

(Bernama) – The Home Ministry on Saturday dismissed as incorrect a social media report that political activist Ali Abdul Jalil had been detained by Interpol and would arrive in Malaysia this afternoon.

Brig Gen Fadzlette Othman Merican Idris Merican, press secretary to the Home Minister, said: “The news circulating on the social media is not true.”

He said the Royal Malaysia Police would issue an official statement if there were any developments on the matter.

Meanwhile, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, in a message delivered to Bernama over WhatsApp, said he did not have any information on the matter.

A Facebook account believed to be Ali’s had carried a report saying that he had been detained by Interpol and would arrive in Malaysia at 12.30 pm today.

The Immigration Department recently revoked Ali’s Malaysian international passport.

Ali has been accused of insulting the institution of the monarchy on his Facebook account. He is believed to be in Sweden.