Tian Chua, Haris, Thamrin arrested

The trio have been detained in connection with the May 13 forum, where a call was made to topple the government through street rallies.

PETALING JAYA: PKR vice-president Tian Chua, Anything But Umno (ABU) leader Haris Ibrahim and PAS member Thamrin Ghaffar have been arrested.

It is learnt that the trio have been detained under the Sedition Act.

“Haris was approached by five police officers during lunch [in Segambut] just now and was arrested. He has been taken to the Jinjang detention,” said activist A Jayanath of Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia, who was having lunch with Haris.

He told FMT that Haris was arrested in relation to his speech during a May 13 forum.

During the forum, Haris had called upon the public to take to the streets to bring down the Barisan Nasional-led government due to alleged cheating in the recently concluded 13th general election.

Meanwhile, Tian Chua, who also spoke at the forum, was arrested at the LCCT.

Tian Chua was arrested when he was about to board a flight to Kuala Terengganu to attend the Terengganu state level Blackout 505 rally which is scheduled to be held tonight.

He later tweeted: “Whatever happen, the people must not allow ourselves to be overtaken by fear; continue to assemble peacefully and have faith – we shall overcome!”

According to Haris’ lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar, Thamrin, the son of former deputy prime minister Ghaffar Baba, had also been taken to the Jinjang detention centre.

He was among those present at the May 13 forum.

In a related development, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar tweeted that rumours were abuzz that the total arrest would number 27.

Utter hypocrisy

PKR communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad meanwhile criticised Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak’s administration for being “stuck to more of the same old Umno-BN policies”.

“Last year, Najib has said that there will be a National Harmony Act to replace Sedition Act. Yet, yet the colonial draconian law remains.

“His talk of a national reconciliation after the recent elections also has proven to be meaningless. This is also a bad sign for the new regime of Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Inspector General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar,” said Nik Nazmi in a press statement.

He also criticised the selective persecution of the government.

“Ironically, many Umno-BN leaders and their mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia continue to fan racial remarks yet no action are taken against them while other figures who speak out for democracy are being victimised. This shows the utter hypocrisy of Najib’s administration,” he said.

K Pragalath