Ambiga, 30 others arrested for anti-GST rally

They were detained at the Dang Wangi police station last night.

UPDATED

KUALA LUMPUR: Thirty individuals including social activist and lawyer S Ambiga were detained by police last night to assist in investigations into the Anti-Goods and Services Tax (GST) rally held in the city earlier.

City police chief Tajudin Md Isa said those detained, aged between 17 and 60, were being investigated under Sections 143, 448 and 427 of the Penal Code and Section 4 of the Corrosive Substances and Explosives Act 1985.

“Ambiga was detained at 10pm at the Dang Wangi police station and police will be seeking remand orders on all the suspects tomorrow (today),” he was quoted as saying by Bernama in a statement.

Lawyer Latheefa Koya explained Ambiga would be investigated under Section 143 for being a part of an unlawful assembly. “She’s not even one of the organisers,” she told reporters.

Meanwhile Ambiga told Malaysiakini, “I am shocked by this. It was a peaceful rally.”

Latheefa also tweeted last night that apart from Ambiga, Seremban MP Anthony Loke and PSM secretary-general S Arutchelvan were also detained and would be held overnight in the police lock-up so that a remand order could be sought the next day.

Loke explained he was on the way home to Seremban when he received a call from police. “They said they can arrange a police transport from Seremban if I don’t come.

“I don’t know what’s the rush [...] (but) with the huge turn out today I’m sure they’re under a lot of pressure,” Malaysiakini quoted him as saying.

Arutchelvan meanwhile expressed his shock at being arrested as the police had assured him everything was okay earlier. “After the protest, I called the Dang Wangi public order chief and he said everything went well. So I’m amazed they made arrests.”

Puchong MP Gobind Singh Deo, representing Loke said both his client and Arutchelvan were taken to the police lockup in Jinjang where they would be kept for the night so police could apply for a remand order today.

Rafizi Ramli, no stranger to being arrested, also received a call yesterday, instructing him to present himself at the police station at 10.00am for questioning.

Weighing in on the matter, Human Rights Watch (HRW) deputy director for  the Asian division Phil Robertson said that HRW stands in solidarity with Ambiga.

“Speaking and attending a rally is not a crime, let her go unconditionally,” he tweeted.