It was a case of divine intervention at the PSM solidarity candlelight vigil at Bukit Aman tonight as the call to prayer from a neighbouring mosque quelled rising tension between police and vigil holders.

Soothing the friction at about 8.50pm, the isyak call to prayer led to a peaceful end to tonight's vigil outside the federal police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur, despite earlier warnings by police that "action will be taken".

The first warning came from an officer, identified only as Kamarulzaman, who courted jeers and titters from the crowd of 50 at the hour-long vigil when he said that candles could be dangerous.

Flanked by about 10 police personnel, he told the crowd at 8.35pm: "It can cause fire and anyway, holding candles is not part of our culture.

"I give you five minutes to disperse because this is a security area, or else we will take action using the powers bestowed upon us."

psm candlelight vigil 050711Ten minutes passed without incident but more and more police personnel arrived until one officer named W Karthik told the activists to disperse.

But just as 'negotiations' were about to take place with PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan, the azan call came on and both parties agreed to be silent out of respect.

After this, Arutchelvan led the group, which included PSM-Kota Damansara assemblyperson Dr Nasir Hashim, DAP-Klang parliamentarian Charles Santiago, PKR-Rawang assemblyperson Gan Pei Nie and PKR-Seri Andalas assemblyperson Dr Xavier Jeyakumar, to chant "bebaskan tahanan" (release the detainees) before the group dispersed at 8.55pm.

He also announced that PSM would continue to hold the vigils from 8 to 9pm daily at the same place until the six were released.

"Bersih 2.0 had an audience with the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, which means they are no longer illegal and so police don't have to be in high tension," he said.

'Emergency Ordinance just as cruel as ISA'

The six were arrested in the clampdown on Bersih 2.0, during PSM's nationwide roadshow to raise awareness on what it said was the BN's poor governance, and which had nothing to do with Bersih.

By the end of the vigil there, were about 30 police personnel standing guard about a metre from the candle holders.

The hour-long vigil kicked off at 8pm with the same chant, "bebaskan tahanan", led by PSM activist E Nalini.

"The Emergency Ordinance may sound different, but it is just the same as the Internal Security Act. It is cruel," Nalini said.

Like the ISA, the Emergency Ordinance provides for detention without trial.

Besides the elected representatives, others spotted were members of human rights NGO Suaram and Lawyers for Liberty, as well as family members who have not had access to the detainees.

"It is not our choice to be here, it's the police's choice as we can only stop once (the six) are released," Arutchelvan said.

A habeas corpus application for the six detainees is to be filed tomorrow.