from a php array into the multiselect...
$PHP_array=array(); // create array anyway you need to in PHP
array_push($PHP_array,20); // Single ID values
array_push($PHP_array,22);
$javascript_str = json_encode($PHP_array); // JSON ENCODE
// then in the JS script
$("#multiselectbox").val(<?php echo $javascript_str; ?>);
// Then refresh
$("#multiselectbox").multiselect("refresh");