The Keadilan leader who was arrested yesterday evening during a barbeque gathering was released o­n police bail after seven hours. By then, the party's over.

Keadilan Shah Alam deputy chief, Raja Kamaruddin Raja Wahid - who is popularly known as "Raja Kommando" - was asked to report to the Klang magistrate's court o­n March 7, according to Keadilan supreme council member Dr A Xavier Jayakumar.

Raja Kamaruddin was arrested yesterday for "disobeying police order" at about 5.30pm when he insisted o­n entering the venue of the barbecue, where more than 100 policemen, including those from the Federal Reserve Unit were present to stop the 15-odd people from holding the party.

The barbecue gathering was planned at the residence of Keadilan Selangor Youth chief SD Mohd Johari Yassin in Shah Alam.

The police group, led by Klang OCPD Paramasivam, also surrounded the entire vicinity, manning road-blocks, checking passing cars and refusing anyone from entering the house.

Barbeque held later

The barbecue, however, proceeded at about 7pm after the police left. Some 60 supporters later turned up at the party.

Although Mohd Johari had earlier explained to the police that they were present for the barbecue and that it was being held in a private compound, the police did not budge and refused entry to them.

The police said they were informed that the group intended to hold a big assembly and ceramah (political speech).

Under section 27 of the Police Act, police are empowered to stop activities that take place in a private location if they deem that the activities may be prejudicial to national security interests.

Mohd Johari when contacted by malaysiakini said he will lodge two reports at the Klang police station tomorrow over the police action.

According to him, Paramasivam was quoted in today's Sunday Times as having commented that the police succeeded in preventing a big illegal assembly from taking place.

He was also quoted as saying that the turn-up at the party was not good

"To say that we want to hold a big assembly is a false accusation against us," Mohd Johari stressed.

Private function

On another report, he said it would be based o­n the police's interruption over a private function held at a private place.

Meanwhile, Xavier told malaysiakini that his group did not manage to visit the recent Internal Security Act detainee Abdul Manaf Kasmuri's family yesterday.

The initially planned to visit Abdul Manaf's family who is also living at Shah Alam and proceed with their barbecue later.

"I was told that police surrounded his house and refusing anyone from visiting his family, so we didn't go," he said.

Abdul Manaf, a former army officer, was arrested under the Internal Security Act at his house last Thursday for suspected links to terrorist Jemaah Islamiah group.

Badaruddin Ismail from human rights group Suaram earlier said police's refusal for anyone to approach Abdul Manaf's family is an intimidation and scare tactic so the family could not get in contact with anyone who may be able to help them to fight the use of ISA against Abdul Manaf.