Police have failed to obtain a remand for former Bar Council president Ambiga Sreenevasan arrested during the anti-GST protest yesterday, but the 29 youths detained were not as fortunate.

According to lawyer Michelle Yesudas, 23 of the youths were remanded for three days while six more minors were remanded for a day.

"The 29 were arrested for releasing an orange smoke flare (at the protest), as if it is a heavy offence," Yesudas said in a Twitter posting.

Other than Ambiga, others freed after the session today are DAP national organising secretary Anthony Loke, PAS central committee member Hatta Ramli, and PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan.

Upon her release, Ambiga appealed to the public not to forget the 29 who will be behind bars for up to three more days, calling their remand "ridiculous".

"They got into the station handcuffed and chained.

"I am very concerned. They are the youths of this country and we owe it to them to find out why they are treated the way they are.

"We owe it to them to ensure that they are not treated like criminals even before a case is made against them," she said.

'Abuse of police powers'

The 29 youths had their remand hearing at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters while the remand application for the protest leaders was done at the Jinjang police detention centre.

The multiple arrests following the peaceful May Day rally yesterday in Kuala Lumpur have sparked an outcry from civil society, calling it an abuse of police powers.

The arrests appear unabated as activist Hishammuddin Rais ( left ) was arrested shortly after the four were released at Jinjang police detention centre.

"I was arrested at home at 2.30pm. I am now being brought to Dang Wang district police headquarters.

"Seven police officers came to my house... I am accused of illegal assembly under Section 143 (of the Penal Code)," he said in a series of messages.

 

PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli was also arrested this morning after surrendering himself at the Kuala Lumpur police headquarters.

Police have also summoned PKR vice-president Tian Chua, but has yet to arrest him.

"I told them that I was already on my way to Permatang Pauh; they have not contacted me again," he told Malaysiakini .