Wong, lawyers and protesters released
Published: May 8, 2009 7:06 AM | Updated: May 9, 2009 12:45 AM
Polls reform group Bersih's activist Wong Chin Huat was released from police custody at 3.30pm at the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
Polls reform group Bersih's activist Wong Chin Huat was released from police custody at 3.30pm at the Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID) headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.
His release came soon after five lawyers arrested during a candlelight vigil outside the Brickfields district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur last night were freed this afternoon.
The legal quintet was released at 2.50pm and welcomed by a group of cheering lawyers, friends and family members.
At about the same time of Wong's release, 15 other protestors who were arrested yesterday were also released at the Brickfields police station.
Wong was arrested on Wednesday night from his home in Taman Sri Sentosa in Kuala Lumpur under the Sedition Act.
He is believed to be arrested for urging the public to wear black to protest the ongoing political impasse in his home state Perak.
He is said to have made this call at a Bersih press conference on Tuesday.
Wong however gave more details on his arrest today.
He told reporters that he was informed that he was arrested following a police report lodged by Malay NGO Pewaris member Jais Abdul Karim on Monday - a day before the Bersih press conference.
According to Wong, he was told that the report was lodged based on an exchange of e-mails between Wong and other Bersih members on Bersih's press statement which was to be released n Tuesday.
It is unclear how Pewaris member was able to get his hand on the emails.
The activist must now report to the Jalan Duta courts on May 22. It in uncertain if he will be charged with any offence under the Sedition Act.
Wearing his now-trademark black shirt and plants - he has been mourning the death of democracy in Perak since February - Wong said his arrest was a deliberate effort to stop all Malaysians from wearing black.
"I think it is ridiculous," he said, adding that he will continue to wear black.
"They manage to stop me for two days from not wearing black, but I am in my black colour again. This is my 92nd day after the Perak coup that I am in black," he said.
Immediately after he was released, Wong went to Brickfields police station to welcome 15 of his supporters who were detained for holding a candlelight vigil yesterday.
He then joined the released protesters for a meal at a nearby popular fastfood outlet
Lawyers released
Meanwhile, five lawyers have also been asked to report back at the Brickfields police station on May 22.
The five are Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, Syuhaini Safwan, Puspawati Rosman, Ravinder Singh and Murnie Hidayah Anuar (photo).
There were arrested after they went to the police station to provide legal assistance to a group of the 14 protesters who were picked up for illegal assembly. Also arrested along with them was the Suara Keadilan Chinese version editor Law Teck Hao.
The 14 protesters and Law have also been released from the Brickfields police station at about 3.50pm.
However, the police had confiscated the black shirts donned by them. The family members and friends had to bring new sets of clothing for them.
They emerged from the police station all wearing the turquoise-coloured T-shirts issued by human rights group Suaram.
They were arrested after taking part in a vigil to protest the arrest of Wong.
Those arrested in Penang, Kuching also freed
And in Penang, Suaram activist Ng Eng Kiat, 25, who was arrested yesterday for taking part in a vigil in support of Wong was released this afternoon (photo).
He is instructed to report back to the police in two weeks' time.
In Kuching, Joseph Tawie reports that Padungan state assemblyperson Dominique Ng, his wife Lim Phang Lian, and nine others were released at 2.30am on police bail after their statements were taken.
Dressed entirely in black, they were arrested last night for an illegal assembly at the Kuching Waterfront when they took part in a candlelight vigil in support of their Pakatan Rakyat colleagues in Perak.
Also arrested were Edil Rahmat, head of state PKR Youth chief, and a popular blogger, Lina Soo.
His release came soon after five lawyers arrested during a candlelight vigil outside the Brickfields district police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur last night were freed this afternoon.The legal quintet was released at 2.50pm and welcomed by a group of cheering lawyers, friends and family members.
At about the same time of Wong's release, 15 other protestors who were arrested yesterday were also released at the Brickfields police station.
Wong was arrested on Wednesday night from his home in Taman Sri Sentosa in Kuala Lumpur under the Sedition Act.
He is believed to be arrested for urging the public to wear black to protest the ongoing political impasse in his home state Perak.
He is said to have made this call at a Bersih press conference on Tuesday.
Wong however gave more details on his arrest today.He told reporters that he was informed that he was arrested following a police report lodged by Malay NGO Pewaris member Jais Abdul Karim on Monday - a day before the Bersih press conference.
According to Wong, he was told that the report was lodged based on an exchange of e-mails between Wong and other Bersih members on Bersih's press statement which was to be released n Tuesday.
It is unclear how Pewaris member was able to get his hand on the emails.
The activist must now report to the Jalan Duta courts on May 22. It in uncertain if he will be charged with any offence under the Sedition Act.
Wearing his now-trademark black shirt and plants - he has been mourning the death of democracy in Perak since February - Wong said his arrest was a deliberate effort to stop all Malaysians from wearing black.
"I think it is ridiculous," he said, adding that he will continue to wear black.
"They manage to stop me for two days from not wearing black, but I am in my black colour again. This is my 92nd day after the Perak coup that I am in black," he said.
Immediately after he was released, Wong went to Brickfields police station to welcome 15 of his supporters who were detained for holding a candlelight vigil yesterday.
He then joined the released protesters for a meal at a nearby popular fastfood outlet
Lawyers released
Meanwhile, five lawyers have also been asked to report back at the Brickfields police station on May 22.
The five are Fadiah Nadwa Fikri, Syuhaini Safwan, Puspawati Rosman, Ravinder Singh and Murnie Hidayah Anuar (photo).There were arrested after they went to the police station to provide legal assistance to a group of the 14 protesters who were picked up for illegal assembly. Also arrested along with them was the Suara Keadilan Chinese version editor Law Teck Hao.
The 14 protesters and Law have also been released from the Brickfields police station at about 3.50pm.
However, the police had confiscated the black shirts donned by them. The family members and friends had to bring new sets of clothing for them.They emerged from the police station all wearing the turquoise-coloured T-shirts issued by human rights group Suaram.
They were arrested after taking part in a vigil to protest the arrest of Wong.
Those arrested in Penang, Kuching also freed
And in Penang, Suaram activist Ng Eng Kiat, 25, who was arrested yesterday for taking part in a vigil in support of Wong was released this afternoon (photo).
He is instructed to report back to the police in two weeks' time.
In Kuching, Joseph Tawie reports that Padungan state assemblyperson Dominique Ng, his wife Lim Phang Lian, and nine others were released at 2.30am on police bail after their statements were taken.
Dressed entirely in black, they were arrested last night for an illegal assembly at the Kuching Waterfront when they took part in a candlelight vigil in support of their Pakatan Rakyat colleagues in Perak.
Also arrested were Edil Rahmat, head of state PKR Youth chief, and a popular blogger, Lina Soo.
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