Olympic torch arrives in KL amid heavy security

The Olympic flame arrived in Kuala Lumpur amid heightened security early today after earlier demonstrations fuelled Malaysian fears that foreigners might disrupt the April 21 leg.

The torch, accompanied by Chinese security, arrived by charter plane at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at about 2:19am from Thailand.

The symbol of the Beijing 2008 Games is on the Asian leg of its world tour, which has so far been largely trouble free after embarrassing protests in Europe and the United States earlier this month.

Two Malaysian Olympic officials joined the Chinese Ambassador to meet the torch party, said witnesses.

The torch will now be kept at a secret location before it appears in public on Monday for Malaysian leg, officials said.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Rais Yatim said Malaysia's hosting of the torch relay reflected the nation's close bilateral ties with China - nearly a third of Malaysia's population is also ethnically Chinese.

He also called for the upcoming Olympic Games not to be politicised as the torch arrived here in Kuala Lumpur.

"Malaysia takes this opportunity to reiterate that the Beijing Olympics should not be politicised and remains confident that the Olympics will be successfully held in August 2008," he said in a statement.

Prepared for protests

Malaysian police have increased security for the torch relay, with local Olympic officials concerned that foreign protesters will try to disrupt the event.

"We are well prepared to counter any form of disturbance from anyone or any organisation," the city's public order chief, K Kumaran, was quoted as saying in the media.

Special forces will accompany the torch bearers, and the number of police officers manning the 16.5-kilometre route has been increased from 600 to 1,000, Kumaran said.

On Friday, 30 Falun Gong supporters demonstrated outside the Chinese embassy, alleging that Beijing was using the Games as a reason to persecute the group's practitioners.

China outlawed the Falungong, which combines meditation with Buddhist-inspired teachings, as an "evil cult" in mid-1999, and many practitioners have faced brutal repression there in the past.

A Chinese crackdown on recent demonstrations in Tibet has also put the spotlight on China's heavily criticised record on human rights - and ignited protests at many of the torch's previous stops, notably London and Paris.

Special prayers

The Vajrayana Buddhist Council of Malaysia today held an hour-long multi-faith prayer session, calling for peace in Tibet following riots there and the smooth running of the torch relay and a successful Olympics.

A Tibetan monk at the candle-lit prayer session said there were no protests planned by the group, some of who live and work here, during the torch relay.

"We are not planning any protests in Malaysia tomorrow. We will show our concern by prayers only. There will be no street protests," said Chokhor, who only goes by a single name.

But monks and Malaysian religious leaders also urged China to engage in dialogue with exiled Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama to create peace and stability in the Himalayan region.

"I ... hope after the Olympic games, China will sit with world leaders, along with Tibetan leaders and hold dialogue for peace in Tibet," said Buddhist High Priest of Malaysia Reverend K Sri Dhammaratana.

'Don't break up protests'

Local personalities and celebrities are among the 80 torch bearers who will carry the flame from Dataran Merdeka in the heart of Kuala Lumpur to the capital's Petronas twin towers on its four-hour journey.

Social activist Marina Mahathir, who will be one of those taking part in the relay, said police should not break up protests which were peaceful.

"The torch run symbolises the unity and disunity in the world. People have the right to express. It is to show the views of both sides," she said.

"I hope the authorities will take a kinder view (of the protests)," she added.

The Asia torch relay includes stops in India, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, South Korea, Japan and Vietnam before heading to China.

(AFP)