Police outside Tian Chua’s house, arrest expected
Published: 19 March 2015 11:51 PM
Batu MP Chua Tian Chang speaks at the #KitaLawan rally in the capital city. The rally on March 7 drew thousands protesting against the arrest of opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. – The Malaysian Insider pic, March 19, 2015.Police are outside Batu MP Chua Tian Chang's house in Kuala Lumpur and are expected to arrest him, his party, PKR, said tonight.
The PKR vice-president took part in the #KitaLawan rally in the capital city on March 7, an event which has triggered off at least 10 arrests.
The politician known as Tian Chua will be the 11th person held for questioning for the protest rally if he is arrested tonight.
PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil also tweeted that Tian Chua would be brought to the Dang Wangi police station tonight.
Malaysian laws now allow peaceful rallies although police say they must be told of such rallies in advance.
Tian Chua himself also tweeted that there were "a group of 6-8 policemen in front of my house, it looks like I will be arrested and detained tonight".
At the scene was Subang MP and lawyer Sivarasa Rasiah. He was seen talking to the police officers outside Tian Chua’s home in Bandar Utama over the need to arrest the two-time federal lawmaker.
The police later agreed to allow the Batu MP to give a statement on Friday morning instead of being arrested.
The demonstration in the city earlier this month was held to press Putrajaya into freeing opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim who is serving a five-year jail term after being convicted of sodomy.
Sivarasa Rasiah talking to the police outside Tian Chua’s home. – Pic courtesy of Tian Chua, March 20, 2015.The #KitaLawan movement, a PKR initiative, is also calling for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's resignation.
Other members of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat (PR) who have been detained over the rally are PAS Youth treasurer Mohd Fakhrul Razi, PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar, PKR secretary-general Rafizi Ramli, PKR's Jingga 13 head coordinator Mohd Fariz Musa, PKR Youth chief Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Kelana Jaya PKR Youth leader Saifullah Zulkifli, DAP Youth chief Teo Kok Seong and Subang PKR member S. Jayathas.
Activists Adam Adli Abdul Halim and Mandeep Singh have also been hauled up.
Human rights lawyers have criticised the police's abuse of their remand powers in detaining these individuals for longer than necessary when their statements could have been taken before letting them go.
The handcuffing of some opposition leaders, such as Nik Nazmi, who was also made to walk barefoot, has also been criticised as deliberate moves to humiliate the opposition and intimidate citizens. – March 19, 2015.
