More than two dozen individuals have been detained by the police near the Kuala Lumpur City Centre ahead of a protest against price hikes organised by the Coalition Against Inflation (Protes).

At about 2.45pm, seven PAS’ party volunteers, including one woman, were picked up outside the KLCC Jalan Ampang entrance and brought to the Kuala Lumpur police contingent headquarters for questioning.

Almost simultaneously, near the Ampang Park LRT station, another five women and three men were also detained in connection with the rally.

Malaysiakini reporter Syed Jamal Zahiid was also picked up. He was detained while questioning a police officer over several arrests near the Ampang Park area.

Malaysiakini office has contacted Dang Wangi OCPD Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman to vouch for the identity of Syed Jamal who then assured that the journalist would be released after giving his statement.

Police had earlier turned out in their hundreds to disperse the gathering at the Twin Towers, which were barricaded and under heavy guard.

At about 3.30pm, about 200 Parti Sosialis Malaysia (PSM) supporters marching from Ampang Park towards KLCC were locked in a standoff with the police.

Ten minutes later, at least 12 PSM supporters and leaders were arrested after a minor scuffle with the police.

Police have declared the rally today illegal and have obtained a rare court order banning people from attending.

Commenting on the court order, PSM president Dr Nasir Hashim said the police were using the courts to curtail fundamental liberties.

“It’s a very funny court order. People are just walking around and they are being taken away. I think the lawyers should challenge this because we cannot express your grievances in this country,” he said.

'The leadership is paranoid'

"We're not causing any problems, we're just saying that prices are going up and the poor are hurting," PSM chairman Mohamed Nasir told AFP before he was taken away by police.

"The leadership is paranoid, there's no democracy," he said.

Police refused to say why the Malaysiakini reporter, who had been asking an officer for information, was taken away. The government has refused to give Malaysiakini staff the press pass which journalists need to access official events.

"I'm definitely disturbed by this. It shows that police are not respecting the rights of journalists to do their job," said Malaysiakini's editor in chief Steven Gan.

"They should have released him as soon as he identified himself as a journalist," he told AFP.

Puzzled tourists milled on the edges of the protest, watching the riot police who stood in formation as a helicopter buzzed overhead.

"It's pretty crazy," said Jon Iliffe, a British businessman on a work trip to Malaysia. "It's a bit strange that they're not allowed to protest and say what they want."


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