In a Facebook post, Muhyiddin said the charge raised concerns about freedom of speech.

He said Hilman had the right to voice his criticism against the Sedition Act and protest the detention of Bersatu Youth leaders.

“I pray that Hilman and the entire leadership and members of Bersatu Youth will remain steadfast in fighting against the tyranny and hypocrisy of the government,” Muhyiddin said.

Hilman, when addressing the crowd at the July 29 gathering outside the Dang Wangi police headquarters, had slammed the arrests of several party members, believed to be in connection with the Turun Anwar rally on July 26.

Describing the arrests as unnecessary, Hilman said the police only needed to summon them if their statements were required.

He also said the more people arrested over the Turun Anwar rally, “the faster the government would fall”.

Police had arrested Bersatu leader Badrul Hisham Shaharin and Sijangkang PAS Youth chief Ikhwan Syaffiq on July 28.

The following day, Furqan Hakimi, who serves as the executive secretary of Bersatu Youth’s Perak chapter, and party member Syafiq Aziz were also arrested.

All four were released the day after their arrests as the remand applications were rejected.