Nabila Khairuddin said Syarul Ema, who is also better known as Ratu Naga, was brought to the MACC headquarters in Putrajaya by officials after they raided her house at around 9am.

Azam denied that the pro-Perikatan Nasional activist had been arrested, telling Malaysiakini that she was only “summoned to record her statement” to facilitate an investigation under Section 16 of the MACC Act, which relates to the offence of accepting gratification.

“The statement today by the MACC chief that my client, Syarul Ema, was only summoned to give her statement and not arrested is untrue,” said Nabila.

“Her house was raided this morning and she was picked up and taken in a MACC car to Putrajaya.

“She has been denied access to her lawyer and her husband by the investigation officer.

“This is a clear arrest.

“For the MACC chief to say Syarul Ema was not arrested is ridiculous and totally contrary to the facts.”

Nabila said she was still waiting at MACC’s headquarters in Putrajaya to see Syarul Ema, adding that the reason for her arrest was still unclear.

She also claimed the investigation officer handling the case had refused to provide her with any information regarding the MACC’s probe into Syarul Ema.

FMT has contacted MACC for comment.

Last October, police investigated Syarul Ema for her social media posts that were deemed to have defamed the prime minister’s wife, Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

The former Wanita PKR leader was also previously investigated for her participation in the Selamatkan Malaysia anti-government rally on Sept 16.