Perak DAP has lodged a report with the Malaysian Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) today against the police for their "disruptive actions" against the party during its 'people awareness campaign'.

The complaint letter, addressed to Suhakam chairperson Abu Talib Othman, was delivered to the Suhakam office in Kuala Lumpur this afternoon by a DAP delegation headed by its state chairperson, Ngeh Koo Ham. It was received by Suhakam commissioner Dr Abdul Monir Yaacob.

Among the complaints were the arrest of the party's chairperson Lim Kit Siang in Ipoh on June 5 and the police raid on the Perak DAP office yesterday.

Lim was arrested while distributing leaflets allegedly containing seditious remarks regarding Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad's declaration that Malaysia is an 'Islamic state'. He was later released on a RM3,000 police bail and told to be present at the Ipoh Magistrate's Court on July 5.

Ngeh said he deplored the police's action to"arrest first, justify later".

"It is ridiculous to suggest that the said leaflet is seditious since it is explanatory in nature. It is also educational," he emphasised.

Public also fear arrest

He said as a result of Lim's arrest, the public has become cautious about receiving the leaflet as they fear they would be arrested as well for possessing the campaign material.

On the raid at the DAP office, Ngeh described it as "unprecedented".

It is learnt that the raiding team comprising 20 police personnel searched the premises for an hour and confiscated some 5,000 copies of campaign leaflets.

Another complaint was on the police refusal to allow party members to gather peacefully at the markets in Kampung Simee, Pasir Pinji, Menglembu and Buntong to launch the campaign over the past few days.

Ngeh urged Suhakam to investigate the complaints quickly and conduct a public inquiry to ensure that the rights to association, dissemination of information, free speech and the right of legitimate political parties to operate freely are preserved.

Abdul Monir said the DAP complaint will be discussed at the next meeting of Suhakam.

Also present at the event were DAP member of Parliament for Batu Gajah Fong Po Kuan, former Menglembu state assemblyperson Lok Swee Chin and Perak DAP Youth chief Thomas Soo.