Almost 600 arrested, including 44 juveniles
Almost 600 people were arrested as part of a massive police crackdown on an anti-Internal Security Act rally today in the city centre.
Almost 600 people were arrested as part of a massive police crackdown on an anti-Internal Security Act rally today in the city centre.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Mohd Sabtu Osman told Malaysiakini that a total of 589 people were detained, of whom 40 were women.
He also revealed 44 detainees were juveniles - those who are below the aged of 18. Twenty are still studying in secondary schools, while seven are university students.
According to him, the arrests, which began as early as 7am today, were made under section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) “to prevent illegal acts” from taking place.
Most of them have been taken to Cheras police district for questioning.
Mohd Sabtu added that the police were also investigating 11 individuals, including PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, PAS president Abdul Hadi Awang, DAP supremo Lim Kit Siang and Abolish ISA movement (GMI) chairperson Syed Ibrahim Syed Noh.
Those to be called for questioning include PAS secretary-general Mustafa Ali, PAS vice-president Mahfuz Omar, Batu MP Tian Chua (PKR), Machang MP Saifuddin Nasution (PKR) and PAS central committee member Mohamad Sabu.
The massive demonstration today saw the police firing tear-gas and water cannons at more than 20,000 people who took it to the streets urging the government to abolish the controversial security law, which allows detention without trial.
Najib: We leave it to the police
Bar Council's Legal Aid Bureau lawyer Puspawati Rosman said that many of those arrested have since been released.
She said 52 detainees were however still being held.
At 12.20am, it was confirmed that the 52 will be detained overnight at Bukit Jalil police station - 12 of them have been remanded four days.
Three juveniles are held - one aged 13 and two aged 16. Eleven of them are women, including GMI (Abolish ISA Movement) leader Norlaila Othman.
All were brought to Jalan Duta court complex for remand. About 10 lawyers have sought to provide legal assistance but they were denied access to the detainees.
According to Selangor executive councillor Elizabeth Wong, Subang parliamentarian R Sivarasa - who was among those arrested - has yet to be released and she lamented that the police have refused to provide him with his medication.
In a related development, Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said those arrested will have to face the consequences of their actions.
“We want to advise them (protesters) but if they refused to listen, what can I do? It is up to the police if the arrests are made, we need to leave it to the authorities,” Najib was quoted as saying by Star Online.
