No sleep at since arrest, complains Tian Chua

PKR politicians accuse police of wasting time and depriving officers of holidays.

KUALA LUMPUR: Batu MP Tian Chua, held by police overnight over the anti-GST rally on Saturday, has complained about not having enough sleep after being brought to Dang Wangi station from Penang.

He was arrested late last night after campaigning for the Pakatan Rakyat in the Permatang Pauh by-election, and arrived in Dang Wani at 3.15am.

“Waited from 3am to 5am, even the IO’s shadow is nowhere to be seen,” he said in a Twitter message quoted by Malaysiakini. “If you are not prepared to investigate, better to just put me in a lockup. At least I can sleep.”

He questioned whether the Inspector-General of Police, Khalid Abu Bakar, had instructed police to carry out sleep deprivation as a subtle tactic to penalise the arrested activists.

Tian Chua was one of several opposition politicians arrested in connection with the rally in which tens of thousands took part. His party comrade Rafizi Ramli, the MP for Pandan, and social activist Hishammuddin Rais were released on police bail early this morning hours after their arrest.

Chua’s lawyer Michelle Yesudas said police had said he would be released after his statement was recorded. He would not be placed in remand.

Rafizi told Malaysiakini that it was only until almost midnight that a short statement was recorded from him. He was asked to identify the organisers of the Bantah GST rally, and questioned about the speeches at the rally.

He said his arrest was a “total waste of time” both for him and the police. “It is ridiculous to keep these lower-rank officers from their holidays and during the weekend just to harass us,” Rafizi was quoted as saying.

Hishamuddin questioned why he was arrested at his home when police already had his phone number and could have asked him to go to a police station.

“The tenant’s association might take a resolution asking me to vacate this place because it has been raided twice by the cops,” he was reported to have said.

Police action against all three were taken for alleged offences under the Sedition Act and Peaceful Assembly Act.