Two student activists involved in the weekend’s Gempur Rasuah Sabah 2.0 rally were reportedly detained after visiting the Kota Kinabalu police station on Monday — but authorities have denied they were arrested.

Suara Mahasiswa UMS president Fadhil Kasim and fellow activist Alif Danial had arrived at the station to follow up on a police report concerning an alleged acid-splashing incident involving a student’s vehicle during Saturday night’s sit-in.

They were believed detained around 11am on Monday. 

A third activist, Sabir Syarifuddin, was also later detained, raising the number of students reportedly detained to three around 3pm. 

According to GRS 2.0 coordinator Qistina Qaisara, Fadhil and Alif were taken in under a warrant and not given the opportunity to consult legal counsel.

“They were called in for a follow-up investigation into the acid incident, but once they arrived, they were arrested under a warrant,” she said in a voice message shared with the media.

“The police did not wait for their lawyers — who are now on their way.”

The incident comes amid growing scrutiny of the two-day student-led protest, which concluded on Sunday and is now the subject of three investigation papers covering nine alleged offences. These include sedition and the possession of hazardous materials.

Police are also examining the public burning of a caricature of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, which took place during the rally’s conclusion, alongside renewed calls to address corruption in Sabah.

However, Kota Kinabalu district police chief Assistant Commissioner Kasim Muda denied that the students were arrested.

“They were summoned to provide statements about the acid-splashing incident,” he said. “A second statement was later taken as part of the investigation into the protest.”

He also dismissed social media claims that the students were mistreated in custody.

“The police deny claims made by a rally participant that his two friends were arrested and assaulted. That is not true,” he said. “They were merely advised not to livestream, record, or take photos inside the station — that was the only instruction.”

Kasim said the term “arrest” was inaccurate, as the students were called in to assist with investigations. One of them, he noted, was listed as the main organiser of the rally.

The arrest claims were first raised in a Facebook post by Borneo Komrad activist Mukmin Nantang, who alleged that Fadhil and Alif were detained while attending a forensic appointment. He also claimed Fadhil told him he had been subjected to physical and verbal abuse — allegations that police have now denied.

As of the time of reporting, the students’ lawyer had yet to arrive at the station. – June 24, 2025