Tian Chua says made to wait 2 hours before sent to Dang Wangi lock-up

Tian Chua was nabbed by a group of policemen in Permatang Pauh last night. Eyewitnesses say he was roughed up before the police took him to Kuala Lumpur. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, May 3, 2015.

Batu MP Chua Tian Chang, who was nabbed by police last night before he was brought to Kuala Lumpur early this morning, said he had to wait some two hours before being allowed to "rest" in the lock-up.

The PKR leader, better known as Tian Chua, was allegedly roughed up by police during his arrest in Penang last night, and is currently at the Dang Wangi police headquarters over his involvement in the Workers Day rally on Friday.

Tian Chua said he arrived at the station at 3.15am.

“Waited from 3am until 5am, still there is no sign of IO (investigating officer). If not prepared to conduct investigation, might as well be in lock-up, at least I can sleep," he wrote on Twitter this morning.

He also questioned if it was a deliberate police tactic on detained activists, and tagged Inspector General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar's Twitter handle, @KBAB51.

Sources said Tian Chua might be released on bail today but this could not be confirmed.

The PKR vice-president was the fourth politician arrested in connection with Friday's rally against the goods and services tax (GST) in the city centre.

Police also arrested lawyer and activist Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan, DAP organising secretary and Seremban MP Anthony Loke, PAS MP for Kuala Krai Dr Hatta Ramli, and Parti Sosialis Malaysia secretary-general S. Arutchelvan, all of whom were released.

Yesterday, police also arrested activist Hishamuddin Rais and PKR's Pandan MP, Rafizi Ramli. Both were taken to the Dang Wangi police headquarters and released last night.

So far, police have picked up 36 people, 29 of whom have been remanded for three days to facilitate investigation into acts of vandalism during the protest, as well as for unlawful assembly and sedition.

This morning, #KitaLawan secretariat member Fariz Musa went to Dang Wangi police headquarters to get his statement recorded, but it was unclear if he would be detained.

Police have also contacted PAS deputy president Mohamad Sabu, who is expected to have his statement recorded tomorrow.

- TMI