You're under arrest, cops tell Anwar

"I was in the car with him when he was arrested. We were surrounded. Their (the police team's) exact words were 'you are under arrest'."

Detained PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim's lawyer N Sankara Nair recounted this at a 30-minute press conference at 6.30pm.

"We (including fellow-lawyers R Sivarasa and Param Cumaraswamy) were clearly and absolutely put in fear...we were so intimidated," said Sankara.

Sankara was referring to the presence of some 20 balaclava-clad police personnel during Anwar's arrest this morning near his house in Bukit Segambut.

The police officers did not serve any warrant when arresting Anwar.

"He asked for a warrant but the police said they did not need one. As lawyers, we understand that this is a seizable offence."

However, Anwar was not handcuffed when taken away in a white 4WD vehicle with tinted windows.

When asked how Anwar was doing, Sankara replied that he "was okay" despite persistent back-pain.

He reiterated that Anwar's arrest had nothing to do with his non-appearance at the police headquarters on Monday.

"In fact, several minutes before the arrest, the investigation officer DSP Jude Pereira called us to ask if were coming. We replied that we would be there at 2pm sharp," he said.

"If Anwar had not showed up at 2pm, I would understand the need to arrest. The police have breached the trust and confidence we once had.

"Now, my client has expressed fear that he will be subjected to intimidation by the police."

Sankara explained that Anwar had wanted to go home to freshen up for prayers and to see his family before leaving for the police headquarters, as he anticipated being arrested.

On June 28, Anwar's former aide Mohd Saiful Bukhari Azlan lodged a police report claiming that the politician had sodomised him.

Anwar has claimed it is a political conspiracy, but government leaders have denied this.

Lawyer Sivarasa with Anwar

Sankara had told reporters that the police must explain the purpose of arresting Anwar in such a manner.

"I would go as far as to ask for disciplinary action Pereira for breaching a gentleman's agreement," he said.

Earlier this afternoon, he had told reporters that under the law, Anwar does not need to provide the police with a DNA sample.

The police started recording the opposition stalwart's statement at about 2.50pm on the sodomy allegation against him.

PKR vice-president Sivarasa - who is also PKR vice-president - was with Anwar during the process.

Deputy national police chief Ismail Omar confirmed Anwar had been arrested, saying he was a suspect in the sodomy case and would need to undergo a medical examination.

"He is not being charged with anything yet, don't jump to conclusions," Ismail told AFP.

"We have to record his statement to complete our investigations," he said. "Once the facts are in we can make a decision."

"We have to record his statement to complete our investigations," he said. "Once the facts are in we can make a decision."

Police can detain him for 24 hours after which they must apply for a court order that would allow them to keep him for up to 14 days without charge.

Anwar was supposed to have gone to the police headquarters on Monday to have his statement recorded.