14 members of ‘Bersih’ and ‘Merah’ detained by police
KUALA LUMPUR: Bersih chairman Maria Chin Abdullah and Gabungan NGO Gerakan Merah Malaysia (GNGMM) chairman Datuk Seri Jamal Md Yunos are among 14 people who police detained Friday and early yesterday.
They were nabbed in connection with an illegal rally in the federal capital yesterday.
Jamal was detained at his residence at Jalan Ampang here at about 1.30am, while Maria was detained at the Bersih office in Petaling Jaya at 5.20pm Friday.
Kuala Lumpur police chief Datuk Amar Singh Ishar Singh said police had also detained Seremban member of parliament Anthony Loke Siew Fook and former Selangor exco Ronnie Liu Tian Khiew.
He said the individuals were arrested around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor.
“The individuals were arrested to prevent rioting and breach of peace in regard to the Bersih 5.0 rally,” he said in a statement here yesterday.
He said Jamal was detained under Section 142 of the Penal Code, for allegedly being a member of an unlawful assembly, and the case was being investigated by Selangor police.
“Maria Chin was arrested in a raid at Bersih’s office in Petaling Jaya. The investigation followed media reports that some individuals and NGO were allegedly receiving foreign funds and have links with the Open Society Foundation.
She is detained under the Security Offences (Special Measures) Act 2012.
Amar Singh said Loke was detained at a hotel at KL Sentral and investigated under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act.
He said 10 individuals were being investigated under Section 147/511 of the Penal Code, including Liu.
Nine individuals who have also been detained are Bersih committee member Mandeep Singh Karpall Singh, Parti Sosialis Malaysia committee member S.Arutchelvam, student activists Muhamad Luqman Nul Haqim Zul Razali and Anis Syafiqah Md Yusof and DAP memners Wong Chee Wai @ Jimmy Wong and Lee Khai Meng.
Others detained are Gerakan Merah activists, Hairol Nizam Md Nor, RazaliZakaria and Muhamad Safwan Anang @Talib.
Amar Singh said another NGO GNGMM Ariffin Abu Bakar @Ipin Keramat had also been detained under Section 142 of the Penal Code.
He said police would seek remand orders on the individuals under Section 117 of the Criminal Procedure Code.
“Police are still tracking certain individuals alleged to be involved in the illegal rally,” he said.