Special branch officers harassed an Indonesian comedian who was supposed to perform at a #YellowMania tonight, claims event organiser Bersih.

Its chairperson Maria Chin Abdullah told Malaysiakini that the stand-up comic, Newendi, was about to leave the Kuala Lumpur Chinese Assembly Hall at about 9.30pm when he was approached by Special Branch officers from Bukit Aman and Dang Wangi.

"Twenty to 30 special branch officers stopped him and took down his details. Now he has gone back to Indonesia; (but) he was not deported.

Police had reportedly said that the comedian needed a special permit from City Hall to perform.

Maria, however, said that Newendi did not go on stage, as Bersih had feared for his safety.

The Indonesian was part of a group of comedians slated to perform a stand-up comedy show tonight at Bersih’s #YellowMania event.

Maria said the police disturbance is part of ongoing harassment against the electoral reform movement’s public awareness tagged #YellowMania.

"This is part of the harassment that we have been facing ever since we announced Yellow Mania.

“They (the police) can't get to us since we are doing this in a private space so they harass our guests," Maria said when contacted.

Yesterday, Indonesian reformasi activist Mugiyanto Sipin was deported upon arriving at klia2 airport.

He was supposed to be one of the speakers at the #YellowMania forum last night, and because of the deportation, took part in the panel discussion via Skype from Jakarta.

Meanwhile, Dang Wangi district police chief Zainol Samah told Malaysiakini that there was no intent to cause a disturbance.

"We just wanted his information; there was no ill-intent," Zainol said when contacted.